THE MODERATOR: Ludvig Åberg joins us now at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Welcome to your second Ryder Cup. We'll go ahead and get started with questions.
Q. Curious, what's your general giving putts strategy? Are you a nice guy? Are you tough? Where do you land in the spectrum?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: I think it depends on the situation. It depends on where you are in the match. If you're early, if you're late, what the score line looks like.
I think in general, I like to be on the conservative side of -- you want to win matches by making birdies. You want to be aggressive. You want to make putts to win matches. That's the way I view it.
But it's definitely going to be based on where the match is, what the score line is and what the situation calls for.
Q. Where is the general circle of trust for you, like three feet?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, I think it depends, too, if it's a downhill slider, if it's an uphill straight, I think that's a little different, too.
Yeah, if we're playing at home with our buddies, it might be a little bit different than playing a Ryder Cup in New York. But I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be awesome. It's going to be really cool.
Q. What kind of an adjustment was that last time going college, individual, team setting, and do you feel more prepared or any different this time around?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, I definitely feel more prepared. I think last time, two years ago was such a whirlwind for me. I think it was about three months since I turned pro, and I was sitting in Rome with those guys. That was definitely a quick turnaround for me.
Over the last two years, I've had experiences since that's really helped me. Although I still look back at Rome with a big smile, with a lot of cool experiences that I've had leading up to that event, I do feel I kind of know a little bit more what to expect with the team room, and it makes things a little bit easier.
But it's definitely going to be a different challenge here this week but something that we're really looking forward to.
Q. Do you take any sense of pride in being probably the last guy whose golf made Scottie cry?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: It's not something I think about.
Obviously that day, it was somewhat of a freak result and something that we didn't quite expect. But it was a cool experience that me and Viktor had, and it was a cool thing to do, yeah.
Q. I was going to ask a similar thing. That Saturday morning when you had already achieved a lot in your career, how does that win on Saturday rank in what you've achieved so far, and what's your biggest memory of that morning?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, I think the biggest thing that I take away from those couple days, and maybe especially that morning, was just the validation for myself, that I'm able to do that. Because obviously before I played in Rome, I hadn't even met those guys. I had never shaken their hands. I had never had a conversation with them.
For me to get there and to bring out a result like that was a big deal for me personally, to know that I'm able to beat those guys at times. I'm able to compete and play good golf against them. That's the biggest thing that I take away.
I had a really good partner that day, which always helps. But it was a cool experience and probably something that I won't forget.
Q. What makes you and Viktor -- why did it work so well? As well as the golf, and are you available to play with him again this week?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, we're good friends. We speak the same language. We come from a very similar background. Obviously he grew up in Norway, and Sweden are very close in terms of the cultural environment. And yeah, we get along. He's a funny guy to have funny conversations with. They can go in any direction that you don't really expect.
We had a good time in Rome, and we've played multiple practice rounds since, and our caddies get along great, too. He's a good friend to have on Tour and in the team room here.
Q. What's the wackiest thing he comes out with? This week, can you think of an example?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Well, yeah, he's always into sort of the UFO deals and all those things, so it's quite interesting. I'm not quite down that road just yet. If I hang out with him long enough, I might be.
Again, you never really know where it's going to go, which is quite interesting.
Q. Luke Donald has talked on needing a different plan from Rome to win an away Ryder Cup. From a player's perspective, do you sense that is the case?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, I think so. I think you'd be naïve to think it's going to be the same. I think the challenge -- obviously there's challenges with playing at home, but the biggest challenges are going to be away.
I think for me, I was fortunate enough to have a really good experience in Rome, and that being my first one. But I think this one is going to be a little bit different.
Obviously the whole environment, the whole situation calls for a different preparation. I think Luke has done a tremendous job, Luke and his whole team, of making us aware of that and making us excited about what's to come.
Yeah, we have an opportunity to do something really special, and I think we have 12 guys who are really excited about that.
Q. Yesterday you guys got out there for the first time in front of the fans, in front of the crowd. So much is made about them. I'm curious what that experience was like for the first time, and if you heard any of the chirping that you guys are anticipating over the next couple days when the tournament starts?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, it was great. It's such a cool, iconic place, Bethpage. It's that passion that the Ryder Cup brings out that you don't necessarily see in a normal tournament. That's why we all love it. That's why we all think it's the best tournament in the world.
We're all looking forward to a good couple of weeks -- couple of days, and good challenging couple of days. It's a cool environment to play golf in, and I feel very, very fortunate to be walking those fairways.
Q. Did you hear any chirps? Did you get a sense of the crowd trying to get under your skin already?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, there's always going to be a little bit of chirping going on, and I think it's a part of sports. It's a part of athletics. That's what makes it fun. That's what brings out these tournaments, and that's why we all love it.
Yeah, you're going to be hearing a lot of things, which is a part of it.
Q. Same 12 surnames as a couple of years ago. You're all just a couple of years older. In what way is the team different to two years ago, and if it's stronger, in what way is it stronger?
LUDVIG ÅBERG: Yeah, it's cool. I think it's very unique that we have so many guys coming back. It's a very hard thing to do because basically you have your same 12 guys performing at a really -- or 11, at a really high level over a long period of time.
I think the team is very strong. We have some really good players, good personalities, lots of experience. Obviously a more experienced team now than we were two years ago, especially with the rookies that we had last time that are no longer rookies; and Rasmus, who didn't play last time but he was in the team room, and he got to experience the whole setting of being a part of the team. I'm really excited about him and what he can do this week.
Yeah, I think we're 12 really excited guys who just want to go out and play good golf and have fun in our matches.
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