Tall, tanned, lean, straight-backed, square-jawed? No, it’s not the striking embodiment of manly prowess that is your correspondent. Although I have been working out lately.
The fine specimen we’re talking about is Ludvig Aberg, the sparkling Swede whose career continues to travel on the same kind of trajectory you’d get with a vessel of space exploration.
In shirt-sleeves conditions here at the Renaissance yesterday, the 24-year-old thrust himself to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Genesis Scottish Open.
Aberg followed up his 64 on Thursday with another six-under card in round two to move into a one-shot lead over the Frenchman, Antoine Rozner, with a 12-under aggregate.
According to the number crunchers and statisticians, it’s the best opening 36-holes score wise of his professional career. That pro career, of course, is not very old.
He joined the paid ranks just over a year ago and has already shoehorned in a DP World Tour win, a Ryder Cup appearance, a PGA Tour victory and a runners-up finish on his major debut at the Masters into a whirlwind 12-months or so.
This time last year, Aberg missed the cut at the Renaissance in just his fifth start as a professional. Here in 2024, he’s in the hunt to join Jesper Parnevik, Johan Edfors and Alex Noren as Swedish winners of this Scottish showpiece.
In the eyes of many observers, Aberg is already a golfing superstar. Just don’t tell him that. “I wouldn't describe myself as a superstar,” said the unassuming world No 4 who remains as grounded as a cancelled flight.
“All I try to do is play good golf. These last 12 months may have changed my life on the golf course, but it hasn't really changed my life off it. I'm still me.
“Whenever I come home from the golf course, I take my working hat off and make sure that I spend time with my girlfriend and my friends. I think it's important to have that structure.”
The structure of his 64, meanwhile, was as sturdy as the Oresund Bridge and a tidy, bogey-free effort was illuminated by a cracking approach to the 11th – his second – which trundled to within tap-in distance.
Urged on by a colourful and sizeable Swedish support – “it’s the closest I’ve played to Sweden in a while” – Aberg was as calm as the East Lothian weather. He wasn’t always like this, mind you.
“I used to be very p***ed and while I wouldn’t throw clubs and go into tantrums, I would get bitter,” he said of his fiery side. “But it’s something that I’ve worked on. It’s a tricky sport we’re doing and I try to keep it as light as I can.”
Rozner led the chasing pack on 11-under after a fine 64 which included a belter of a second shot from almost 300 yards at the par-5 third which rolled to within four-feet and spawned an eagle.
Rozner has yet to scribble a bogey onto his card this week. The key to his success? “A bit of luck,” he said with a smile. “You get away with bad shots and sometimes you’ll not get away with good shots.
"I got some good breaks to be honest. And I avoided some traps when I probably should have been in them. But that’s links golf.”
The resurgent Italian Matteo Manassero eased himself into the mix with a 63 which left him lurking on 10-under with Korea’s Sungjae Im.
Manassero, who claimed his first tour title in 10 years earlier this season after a prolonged and despairing spell in the doldrums, took full advantage of the inviting conditions as the 31-year-old upped the ante in his push for the fifth DP World Tour crown of his career.
“We’re having dream weather here in Scotland, it doesn't even feel true,” he said. It’ll never last, Matteo.
Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, was left to reflect on what might have been despite staying within striking distance on nine-under after a 66.
The Northern Irishman couldn’t muster a birdie over his final five holes during a run that featured a missed tiddler on the 16th – don’t mention the US Open – and another spurned chance on the 17th.
“I’m standing here feeling like I should be around Ludvig's score if not a little bit better,” McIlroy conceded as he mulled over the ones that got away.
“But I’m right in the mix going into the weekend. I definitely feel like there's a lower one in me. I saw 62 and 63 today and that’s what it's going to take to be right up there going into Sunday.”
The posse on nine-under also includes Spain’s Alejandro del Rey, a late call up from the reserve list to replace the injured Sebastian Soderberg. Del Rey has certainly made the most of his chance and a 62 yesterday started with an explosive barrage of six straight birdies.
Collin Morikawa, The Open champion at St George’s in 2021, joined the nine-under gang thanks to a 66 while Oban’s Robert MacIntyre, pipped to the title by McIlroy last year, kept the home fires burning with a 65 that tucked him into a share of 11th on a busy leaderboard and just four off the pace.
There’s plenty to play for.
