It seems like it takes more than blood to halt the progress of Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg. The Swedish golfer finished the third round of the BMW Championship right in the mix for victory, tied for third place at 10 under par.
That leaves the 24-year-old just two shots off leader Keegan Bradley, and well placed to land a second PGA Tour title.
But his 71 on Saturday didn’t start smoothly, with Aberg suffering a visible nose bleed as he approached the first green.
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There seemed no obvious explanation for the bleed, other than the effects of altitude at Castle Pines Golf Club. The course in Colorado is situated some 6,200 feet above sea level, a notion that means extra yardage gains for players.
Aberg’s reaction, however, seemingly spoke volumes about his strength of character. Despite his tender age, the player has been lauded for his positive approach to the game, as well as his ability to laugh off setbacks.
And you could see why as he chuckled away while the blood streamed down his face onto his shirt. He duly wiped his nose with his golf towel, before lining up what appeared a hazardous 53-foot putt from off the green.
To the astonishment of the crowd, Aberg’s effort dropped for an unlikely birdie. That prompted more smiles from the world No.4, who lapped up the applause of the galleries.
Aberg has proved a popular figure since bursting onto the scene in 2023, winning the European Masters to earn a place on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team as a captain’s pick. In doing so, he became the first player in history to be selected to play in the competition without having played in a major championship.
He proceeded to set another new marker in Rome, teaming with Viktor Hovland to record a 9&7 victory over Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka. It was the largest winning margin ever in an 18-hole Ryder Cup match.
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And Aberg has continued to make waves in 2024. He was second in the Masters at Augusta behind eventual winner Scheffler, and ended up tied for 12th at the US Open in June.
The BMW Championship concludes on Sunday, with Aberg paired with compatriot Alex Coren for the final round. The tournament signifies the second stage of the FedExCup Playoffs.
