Ludvig Åberg feels more prepared for Ryder Cup after Rome whirlwind

Ludvig Åberg says he feels far more prepared for the Ryder Cup now than he did after his Rome breakout, a moment that helped launch him from a Texas Tech graduate into a fresh-faced European spearhead. He turned pro just under three months before that 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome and, paired with Viktor Hovland, helped Europe reclaim the trophy in a dominant 9&7 victory that highlighted the potential of a late-blooming Swedish talent. The moment also vindicated Luke Donald’s decision to select the then-22-year-old for the team, a decision that Åberg says carried extra weight in his mind as he prepares for the 2025 edition at Bethpage Black.

Two years later, Åberg, now 25, has logging a growing resume that includes two PGA Tour titles and multiple top-10 finishes at The Masters. He reflects on the Rome experience as a turning point, insisting the last two years have given him a clearer sense of what to expect in the team room and on sponsor days, where chemistry often matters as much as form. “Two years ago was such a whirlwind for me,” he said Wednesday. “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.”

The European roster for this Ryder Cup is virtually identical to the Rome lineup, with 11 of the 12 members continuing on this year. The lone addition is Rasmus Højgaard, who has replaced his twin brother Nicolai and has sparked a few humorous misreads on the team’s lineup. “Shane [Lowry] sometimes just calls me ‘Nicolai,’ and then he’s like, ‘Oh, Rasmus is here,’” Højgaard joked. “It happens all the time … It’s all right. I’m used to it. I’ve been used to it for 20 years now. So it doesn’t really bother me.”

Højgaard’s easygoing response comes as the event looms over Bethpage Black, where security plans have been stepped up in light of President Trump’s planned attendance. Ryder Cup officials announced enhanced measures to handle what is expected to be a large crowd this week. More than 50,000 fans are anticipated for the opening day, which will begin with foursomes at 7:10 a.m. and shift into fourball play at 12:25 p.m. The PGA of America urged ticket holders to arrive early and warned spectators that access could involve delays in public and secure areas inside and around the course.

In a practical sense, the day’s schedule matters for Åberg as he and Europe chase a repeat of the performance that flipped the Ryder Cup narrative two years ago. The 2025 edition in New York marks a continuity of Europe’s roster and approach, with Donald banking on a familiar mix of experience and rising talent. The team will rely on the same core that delivered Rome’s decisive victory, while Åberg, who has since matured through professional golf with wins and near-misses, looks to translate that growth into steady leadership on a biennial stage that demands both individual brilliance and cohesive teamwork.

As the morning fog lifts over Bethpage Black and the first matches tee off, the underlying storyline remains the same: a European squad that believes its chemistry can offset the weight of the moment, led by a captain who trusted young Åberg then and continues to rely on him now. For Åberg, the path from an intimate Rome moment to a bigger stage in New York feels less like a leap and more like a measured ascent grounded in hard-won experience. If the Rome victory was validation, the lessons of the intervening years have sharpened the blade—readying a player who insists he now knows what to expect in the team room, on the range, and under the pressure of a Ryder Cup that returns to a course with a storied sense of history.