Ludvig Åberg back in contention at Valero Texas Open two weeks removed from stumble at TPC Sawgrass

For Ludvig Åberg, golf is in regards to the alternative to win tournaments.

Although he struggled to try this in his final occasion – firing a final-round 76 at THE PLAYERS – after two weeks off, he’s discovered himself proper back in the combination on the PGA TOUR.

Åberg shot a 5-under 67 Friday at the Valero Texas Open, his second such rating in a row, and was simply 4 back of Robert MacIntyre’s early day-two lead with the afternoon wave on the course.

Through the early a part of Friday, Åberg was in the highest 10 in each Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and SG: Around-the-Green. He recorded three birdies on his opening 9 on Friday and one other birdie and a hole-out eagle on the par-4 sixth on his second 9, earlier than giving a shot back with a bogey on the par-5 ninth. Still, Åberg mentioned, he’s pleased together with his day contemplating the circumstances.

“It was hard, thought it was tricky with the wind,” Åberg said. “Obviously, we’ll get a few of those downwinds, a few of those crosswinds and kind of all over the place. Overall, I felt like we handled it very well. I thought I was driving it somewhat similar to yesterday but a little bit better into the greens today. Overall, pleased with the results.”

Åberg, whose final win on TOUR got here at The Genesis Invitational in 2025, was fast to say he had forgotten about his Sunday stumble at TPC Sawgrass after the previous couple of weeks off.

“I was able to kind of think about it, reflect on it, but also move on from it,” Åberg mentioned. “I think that was the main thing for me at least kind of showing up here this week that those things are behind me, they’re past me and my focus is here this week.”

Åberg nonetheless ended up ending tied for fifth at THE PLAYERS, the week after he completed tied for third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational offered by Mastercard. At the midway level of the Valero – a spot he mentioned he feels awfully snug after his celebrated profession at Texas Tech, just some hours from TPC San Antonio – he’s received one other nice alternative for a high end heading into the primary main of the 12 months.

Åberg completed solo second in his debut at the Masters in 2024 earlier than notching one other top-10 end final 12 months. Åberg has had a combined bag of outcomes at this occasion in his profession – two missed cuts and a tie for 14th in 2024 – however mentioned taking part in the week previous to the Masters helps him dial his sport in off the tee. Despite the two early exits at TPC San Antonio, it’s laborious to argue together with his sport plan given his profession finishes at Augusta National.

“It kind of narrows your tunnel a little bit off the tee, I guess,” Åberg said. “It’s quite nice doing that before Augusta I think when you come there next week and it feels a little bit wider. Overall, I feel like that’s what we’ve done the last couple years. Probably continue to do so in the future.”

While there are nonetheless 36 holes to go, it’s clear Åberg’s good play from March has continued into April. Now it’s only a matter of placing all of it collectively and lifting a trophy – or, in this case, slipping on the cowboy boots.

“For me, golf is about putting yourself in situations where you can win tournaments. I feel like I haven’t really done that very well the last 12 months or so, but starting to see it now, which has been really nice,” Åberg mentioned. “Starting to get back into that level, which is really nice for me to see. So, I’m looking forward to one more shot at it this week.”