SAN DIEGO — Ludvig Aberg experienced a significant turnaround in his golf journey after a challenging outing just three weeks ago at Torrey Pines. During that previous event, he found himself in a promising position, sharing the 36-hole lead, only to be struck down by a severe stomach illness that forced him to finish with a disappointing score of 79. This past Sunday, however, proved to be a different story entirely on the same iconic course.
Starting three strokes behind with limited time left in the tournament, Aberg made an impressive comeback by executing three near-perfect shots that led him to birdies, culminating in a crucial 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th. Aberg completed his round with a 6-under 66, securing a one-shot victory over Maverick McNealy at the Genesis Invitational. The tournament was moved from Riviera due to devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, and Aberg capitalized on the opportunity at one of his favorite venues. Overjoyed, he turned to his caddie, Joe Skovron, to remark, “This Sunday is a lot more fun than the last one we had.”
Reflecting on his success, Aberg noted, “It feels good to be back to myself and physically improving. This moment means a lot to me. The thrill of achieving this is unparalleled, and today’s performance will undoubtedly impact my future positively.” He recently met Tiger Woods, the event’s host, at an indoor competition in Florida, but receiving the trophy from Woods on this occasion held greater significance for Aberg. This victory marks his second PGA Tour title and his third overall in professional golf, elevating him to No. 4 in the world rankings.
For McNealy, who secured his first tour win three months ago, the day ended on a bittersweet note. He made an impressive start at Torrey Pines with eight birdies over the first 11 holes, alongside a remarkable 40-foot par putt on the opening hole, extending his lead to three strokes. However, he faced an unexpected challenge when a drive deflected off a pole into a challenging lie, forcing him to scramble for a par on the 17th hole. Although he finished with a strong score of 64, he ultimately fell short of victory just as Aberg surged past.
“It’s more than I could have hoped for starting the day,” McNealy admitted, reflecting on his performance. “Ludvig played exceptionally well. With this leaderboard, I knew that high-level golf was necessary to take the title.”
Woods witnessed much of the excitement unfold from the broadcast booth after withdrawing from the tournament. His absence was felt deeply, particularly following the recent loss of his mother, Kultida. In honor of her memory, players donned a red button featuring the Thai symbol of love.
Aberg’s thrilling comeback began with a critical 6-foot par putt on the 12th hole. He then successfully two-putted from 50 feet for a birdie on 13, and boldly approached a challenging back pin on the 14th, reaching within five feet for another birdie. On the 15th hole, he sank a remarkable 25-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead. On the par-5 18th, Aberg struck a long shot with his 7-wood from the fairway and rolled it down to around 7 feet, calmly sinking the putt to seal his victory.
“It was a great fight,” Aberg expressed. “I’m really proud of my finish. It was an amazing experience.”
Finishing with a score of 12-under 276, Aberg earned $4 million for this significant win, marking his third triumph since turning pro in June 2023 as the leading college golfer from Texas Tech.
In the meantime, Scottie Scheffler, who was ten shots back from his previous round, made a late push with a 66, tying for third alongside Patrick Rodgers, who finished with a 71. After a tough 76, Scheffler found himself chasing down the leaders before a brief surge, including five birdies on the front nine. However, mistakes on the back nine proved costly; he bogeyed the 11th after a delicate chip and failed to save par from a bunker on 16, despite a remarkable bunker shot birdie on 15.
Scheffler and Rory McIlroy played together, with Scheffler gaining a notable edge early on. McIlroy, struggling with his putting, concluded the day with a frustrating 72 after bogeying the 18th from the water. Meanwhile, Rodgers and Denny McCarthy, both in the final group, exchanged the lead in the final round but ultimately succumbed to the challenging back nine. Rodgers faltered with consecutive bogeys on 11 and 12, while McCarthy, who took the lead with an eagle on the sixth, only added one more birdie to finish tied for fifth with a 71.
