Ludvig Åberg closed with a 20-foot birdie putt for a bogey-free 64 on the Seaside Course to take a one-stroke lead at 11-under at The RSM Classic.
“I feel like I’ve been striking the ball quite well, which obviously is nice in the wind, which is quite tricky to kind of maneuver. I made a few par putts today, I made some 10-footer-ish for par on 1 and then it’s nice to get those momentum putts and to keep the round going a little bit. But there’s no guarantees, but if I keep doing what I’m doing today, I like my chances.”
His 131 total marks his first 36-hole lead/co-lead and lowest opening 36-hole score in his 11th start on Tour as a professional.
“My intention is to stay and play here in America, to play on the PGA Tour. Like I said before, I think we’ll sit down on Monday and kind of talk it over. My intention is the PGA Tour, that’s where I want to play, and I guess we’re just going to have to see where that ends up.
“I think I know my capabilities and I know my — I know my strengths. But also, to be able to do it this quickly, probably not,” he said of his success since turning pro. “I mean, it’s been so much fun. I still pinch myself in the morning whenever I wake up that I actually get to do this for a living, but it’s really cool and I’m looking forward to a bunch of years ahead of me.”
The Swede is one of only four players in the field without a bogey through 36 holes (Peter Kuest, Brendon Todd, Cameron Young).
The RSM Classic is the final event of consideration for the Arnold Palmer Award, given annually to the PGA Tour’s Rookie of the Year.
Fellow rookie Eric Cole of the USA started the day in a share of the lead on the back nine and made five consecutive birdies from the 14th but a bogey and a double bogey at the par-5 7th led to a 66 on the Seaside Course for a share of second place at 10-under.
Denny McCarthy completed his round in the morning for a share of the lead and shot 67 on the Seaside Course for a share of second place alongside fellow American Sam Ryder who eagled the par-5 19th for a 65 on the Plantation Course.
