Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg has revealed he grew up idolising an England great, who he “wanted to be like” back when he was playing.
Aberg burst onto the scene at the 2023 Ryder Cup, only three months after deciding to turn professional as a golfer, and the 25-year-old is now gearing up for the 2025 edition of the prestigious tournament, having established himself as a top player.
The Swede is now 14th in the world rankings, off the back of two PGA Tour wins, securing victories at the RSM Classic in November 2023, before going on to win the Genesis Invitational in February 2025.
The Team Europe member has clearly found his calling in golf, but he has revealed that football is another one of his passions, and he continues to regularly play the sport with his friends whenever he gets the chance.
Aberg said: “Football was actually my first pick for a long time. I still adore playing whenever I’m home, I still play with my buddies and I still watch a lot of football. But it was probably right around I was 15 when I first started playing golf a lot more.
“When I moved to high school, that’s when I stopped playing football. I missed it, it’s a cool sport, I still watch Liverpool as much as I can.”
The golf sensation is indeed a huge Liverpool fan, and he named one of the club’s greatest ever players as his idol growing up.
“In football, it was Steven Gerrard. I wanted to be like him when I was playing and I felt like he respected the club and he represented so much of what I wanted to represent.”
Aberg and McIlroy will need to put aside football rivalries at Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy might have something to say about his teammate supporting Liverpool, given that he has previously revealed he was a Manchester United fan growing up, with the Northern Irishman idolising a different England legend – Wayne Rooney.
Football rivalries didn’t come between the teammates last time around, however, with Luke Donald captaining Europe to victory, and they will be hoping to make it two wins in a row when the 2025 edition starts on September 25th.
It is no surprise that Aberg named Gerrard as his hero growing up, given that the Liverpool legend won nearly everything there was to win at club level, while also proving himself as a big-game player, memorably scoring a last-minute screamer in the last minute of the 2006 FA Cup final.
Aberg will be hoping he can be just as influential later this month, and McIlroy certainly believes he has what it takes, saying after the 2023 edition: “He was absolutely incredible in the Ryder Cup. I keep saying to everyone, ‘I’m glad he’s European.’ I’m glad he’s on my team.”
