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A Masters rookie hasn’t gained in near 50 years, however Wyndham Clark (proper) and Ludvig Aberg (left) may very well be in line to vary that.
Getty Photographs
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s arduous being the brand new man.
On the Masters, Ludvig Aberg is aware of. He’s new. Model-new. Not solely to Augusta Nationwide, the place he’ll play this week in his first-ever Masters — but additionally to all of main championship golf.
It’s simple to overlook that Aberg’s profession variety of main begins is zero. Most gamers of his caliber have main championship peach fuzz by the point they’ve reached their early 20s, normally by means of novice championship victories or particular exemptions. Aberg just isn’t certainly one of them. He performed valiantly as an all-world teenager at Texas Tech, one gifted and adorned sufficient to earn an invite onto the PGA Tour straight out of Texas Tech. He contended commonly and even gained as a Tour rookie, then starred within the Ryder Cup in Rome as a very fearsome piece of a dominating European aspect. Now he’s the ninth-ranked participant on the planet and simply certainly one of professional golf’s most gifted younger’uns — gifted sufficient to earn a Masters pre-tournament press convention earlier than ever enjoying a event spherical.
That resume doesn’t equate to zero main championship begins. However that’s the place Aberg finds himself on Tuesday afternoon in Augusta — a Masters rookie on the point of his first-ever main begin.
Wyndham Clark is aware of the sensation. He wouldn’t have believed you if you happen to’d instructed the reigning U.S. Open champ he’d win a serious championship earlier than he earned a begin at Augusta. However the {hardware} on his mantel and the glimmer in his eyes Tuesday point out in any other case.
Till about 11 months in the past, Clark wasn’t on anyone’s professional golf radar. However then he broke by means of on the Wells Fargo for his first professional win, after which once more, a month later, on the U.S. Open. After which once more, eight months later, at Pebble Seashore. Now, he’s coming into the Masters because the fourth-ranked participant on the planet — and a Masters rookie on the point of his first-ever begin.
It might be a stretch to name these two golfers sleepers, what with their prodigious capability and historical past of event success. Vegas, which has each golfers among the many event favorites, agrees. However there’s a small little bit of historical past working in opposition to them: Not since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 has a participant arrived on the Masters a rookie and exited a champion.
However among the many flood of press conferences on Tuesday at Augusta Nationwide, there was the prevailing sense that these two rookies could be totally different from the remaining.
The distinction, it appears, begins on the mobile stage. Each Clark and Aberg are prolific ball strikers, the type who can overpower a golf course with the sheer power of their {golfing} would possibly. On Tuesday on the Masters, each golfers smothered the vary with blistering drives that carried on tight fades, flushed irons that hit small targets, and hit crisp chips that scared pin placements.
However on a morning when Tiger Woods spoke at length concerning the expertise and headiness wanted to outlive at Augusta Nationwide — and about how that have advantages these enjoying within the occasion effectively into their 40s — it additionally turned clear that each Clark and Aberg possess one thing deeper than athletic capability. Each Masters rookie has a driver they will hit far and straight, however not all of them have the psychological make-up to do it for 72 holes below immense strain. These two Masters rookies do — and that’s what units them aside.
“I believe there’s a distinction between individuals who can win persistently on the PGA Tour and majors and perhaps somebody who wins each occasionally,” Clark mentioned Tuesday. “I believe if you happen to win as soon as each blue moon, I believe that’s only a nice week and you actually had every part clicking that week. However I believe to win a number of instances and in main, I believe that there’s a little little bit of a psychological shift. I’m not saying I do know what that shift is, however I do know I labored actually arduous within the psychological sport. And so when I discovered myself main the U.S. Open after which profitable a U.S. Open, it felt like an everyday occasion. I believe perhaps that’s the shift, I believe that’s what must be executed.”
Aberg agreed.
“I’m making an attempt to embrace it,” he mentioned. “I’m not making an attempt to push it away. I’m not making an attempt to battle it. I believe that’s one of many key issues.
“It’s additionally simply golf, and it’s simply me and my 14 golf equipment.”
This perspective is what endeared Aberg to his present caddie, the veteran looper Joe Skovron, who jumped from Rickie Fowler’s bag to Tom Kim’s, after which jumped from Kim’s to Aberg’s.
“He’s simply so mentally mature,” Skovron instructed me lately. “He’s received a very good perspective when one thing goes flawed. He can take care of it and transfer on. His capability stage is tremendous excessive, and but he simply desires to maintain getting higher.”
Tiger Woods’ surprisingly assertive view on Rory McIlroy’s Masters chances
Aberg says he’ll be leaning on Skovron’s recommendation this week to assist him navigate the extra nuanced difficulties of Augusta Nationwide — and he’ll must. The Masters is a brute of a event for probably the most skilled gamers. For these with out expertise, it may be simple to get misplaced.
“This golf course will get you to chase issues a little bit greater than different golf programs,” Rory McIlroy mentioned Tuesday. “For those who make a bogey or if you happen to get your self out of place, it all the time tempts you to do one thing you assume you are able to do.”
The temptation of Augusta Nationwide is a frequent explanation for youthful ejection. However so is the strain. This Masters is golf’s Tremendous Bowl, as even the hilariously underwhelmed Aberg admitted on Tuesday. There’s no figuring out the way you reply till it’s important to.
However maybe it helps that these guys simply don’t know but. There’s callous in youth, but additionally confidence.
“My first 4 or 5 years on the PGA Tour I realized all of the methods how to not win and the way to not deal with myself in strain moments,” Clark mentioned. “As I’ve now discovered myself in additional of these moments, I really feel a lot extra relaxed. My ideas are slower. I’m taking every part because it comes.”
After all, it’s simple to talk confidently from the consolation of a Tuesday presser — and a little bit tougher from below the gun within the shadows of Amen Nook late on Sunday afternoon. How will Aberg and Clark reply, ought to the chips fall in a historic method for both of them?
Their solutions Tuesday had been revealing.
“I imply, stats like that should be damaged,” Clark mentioned defiantly when requested concerning the rookie winless streak.
Aberg was even much less impressed.
“I truthfully didn’t know that stat up till simply now,” he mentioned with fun.
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