Ludvig Aberg backs up the hype, finishes 2nd at the Masters in his first major

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has insisted for quite some time that Ludvig Aberg is poised to become a huge star in golf.

The world found out why on Sunday.

Aberg, a Swede who entered the Masters ranked ninth in the world at age 24 less than a year after turning pro, hung with No. 1 player in the world for the better part of 72 holes before Scottie Scheffler pulled away on the back nine to secure his second green jacket with a four-shot victory.

Aberg finished second at 7-under 281 despite never having played a competitive round on the slick Augusta National greens — or in any major championship — before Thursday.

“Everyone in my position, they are going to want to be major champions,” Aberg said. “They are going to want to be world No. 1’s. And it’s the same for me, that’s nothing different. I think this week solidifies a lot of those things are there, and we just need to keep doing those things and put ourselves in positions to win tournaments.”