Ludvig Åberg holds the lead heading into the final round of The Players Championship. However, the Swedish star has opened up about the 'stressful struggle' to stay on top at TPC Sawgrass. 

Åberg’s steady play through the first three days has placed him in the final group on Sunday alongside Michael Thorbjornsen. However, the round was not without challenges.

Speaking during the press conference at THE PLAYERS Championship on Saturday, Ludvig Åberg explained how the opening stretch required him to work to save par before finding rhythm.

"Yeah, for sure. I had some nice lag putts for par kind of early on, 1, 2, 3. Missed the fairway on 4. I think that's a fantastic golf hole because it's right in front of you, but it's still quite hard," admitted the PGA Tour pro.

The 26-year-old then pointed to the importance of limiting mistakes on the course.

“When you miss that fairway, you try to take your medicine, but yeah, made a good par save on 5, par save on 7, and then after that kind of got into it, but that's the hard part about this golf course too," added Swede.

After dropping a shot on the fourth hole, Åberg recovered with a par save on the fifth in the third round. He then recorded pars on the sixth, seventh, and eighth to steady the round.

Despite a bogey on the eighteenth after a three-putt, Åberg finished the round with a 1-under 71. It kept him at 13-under overall and ahead of Michael Thorbjornsen at 10-under heading into the final round.

Ludvig Åberg on Staying Patient

"Over a 72-hole golf tournament period, you're going to have times where it's not maybe perfect, even if you're playing really well, so that's how I tried to view it. I tried to view it as sort of that was my little stressful struggle period, if you will, and got away with it with an even par.”

That approach has been part of Åberg’s rise since turning professional in June 2023.

Later that year, he secured his first professional win at the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour in Switzerland, just weeks after entering the professional ranks. 

He followed it with another title on the PGA Tour at The RSM Classic in November 2023 during his rookie season.

Åberg added another PGA Tour victory in February 2025 when he won the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines with a score of 12-under par. Earlier in his career, he also recorded two wins on the Swedish Golf Tour.

Can Ludvig Åberg hold his lead and close out THE PLAYERS Championship on Sunday?

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Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi