Ludvig Åberg echoes Jon Rahm sentiments, regardless of declining LIV provide

The sweet-swinging Swede has determined to remain on the PGA Tour.

Ludvig Åberg, who received final month’s RSM Traditional in Georgia, turned down a LIV Golf contract a number of occasions all through 2023. Åberg revealed this information whereas talking with SVT Sport, a Swedish tv program.

“Once I look again, I’m tremendous assured in my choice,” Åberg stated.

“I’ll by no means attempt to chase cash. What I do is compete. I did the best factor.”

The Ryder Cup star stated he obtained a two-year contract price $2.5 million from LIV Golf this previous February, when he was nonetheless an beginner at Texas Tech.

Then, he obtained one other provide this previous Fall—far more profitable than the earlier one—and turned that down, too.

Photograph by Elianto/Getty Photographs

As an alternative, he’ll compete on the PGA Tour, a circuit the place he’s already a budding star.

“Once I take a look at the PGA Tour and the competitions there, there’s a lot historical past round all of the competitions,” Åberg stated.

“And that’s what I like. That’s what I’m going for.”

The PGA Tour gave Åberg a pathway to skilled golf by way of its PGA Tour College program. For the primary time in 2023, the top-ranked participant on the collegiate stage in the US earned their taking part in proper on the PGA Tour.

Åberg, who received the Ben Hogan Award for a second consecutive yr this previous Might, completed atop the inaugural rankings and earned a PGA Tour card. The Ben Hogan Award is given to the very best males’s golfer within the collegiate ranks.

Apparently, Jon Rahm is the one different participant to win this award twice.

And, like Åberg, Rahm appreciates the PGA Tour’s famend historical past.

“I believe there’s much more to have the ability to play for apart from simply cash on the PGA Tour,” Rahm stated in February 2022 forward of the Genesis Invitational.

“There’s historical past, there’s legacy. On the finish of the day, I’m on this to win tournaments. I’m on this to play in opposition to the very best on the earth.”

Rahm’s feedback from Tiger Woods’ occasion nearly two years in the past echo what Åberg stated Wednesday.

And but, Rahm bolted to LIV Golf on Dec. 7.

Experiences indicated that the Saudi-backed circuit supplied him north of $400 million.

Åberg’s LIV Golf provide got here nowhere close to that determine, however he additionally has a stable understanding of the present state {of professional} golf.

“I need to play in opposition to the very best as a result of I’m a aggressive particular person and wish to compete in opposition to the very best gamers,” Åberg stated.

Photograph By Ramsey Cardy/Getty Photographs

“Sadly, it doesn’t appear like that in the meanwhile. It’s a bit extra fragmented… However then you need to respect everybody’s selections.”

Åberg’s fellow Scandinavian star, Viktor Hovland, additionally shares these emotions.

“It will be a bit foolish to criticize the gamers for leaving,” Hovland stated. “I completely perceive why [Rahm] left. That’s lots, some huge cash.”

Hovland then criticized PGA Tour administration, however Åberg didn’t take it that far when speaking in regards to the PGA Tour.

As an alternative, he revealed his hesitations about LIV Golf.

“There have been a lot of crimson flags, which isn’t good,” Åberg stated of LIV Golf. “We realized that I might probably burn a variety of bridges, and I wasn’t eager about that.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.