Åberg feels more prepared for Ryder Cup after Rome whirlwind

Ludvig Åberg, who had just graduated from Texas Tech and had been a pro for less than three months, said he feels more prepared for the Ryder Cup after the Rome whirlwind two years earlier. In Rome, captain Luke Donald tapped the then-21-year-old Swede to pair with Viktor Hovland against world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, delivering the most lopsided 18-hole result in Ryder Cup history at 9&7. "I think the biggest thing that I took away from those couple days, and maybe especially that morning, was just the validation for myself, that I'm able to do that," Åberg said this week. "Two years ago was such a whirlwind for me. Over the last two years, I've had experiences that have really helped me. Although I still look back at Rome with a big smile ... 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. 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."