Published 21.23
SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK. On with the blue suit!
A weather slick awaits during the US Open’s first day of competition.
– It is a borderline case, says Ludvig Åberg to Sportbladet.
Shinnecock Hills is widely recognized as one of the world’s most difficult championship courses.
Add wind forces of upwards of 20 meters per second to that and you get a test that will make enormous demands even on the world’s best players.
That’s what awaits.
When the 126th edition of the US Open gets underway on Thursday, the wind will be whipping up – and there is a risk of chaotic scenes at lunchtime, when the wind forces are expected to be at their worst.
– Yes, some wind is expected so it will definitely be a tough challenge. There will be high demands on the shots towards the green and the shots on and around the green. As a US Open should be, says Ludvig Åberg to Sportbladet.
Has received criticism
Yes, the US Open is usually classified as the most difficult of golf’s four majors.
Not infrequently, it is enough to go around pairs to have a chance to win; for example, Brooks Koepka won at +1 when the US Open was last played here at Shinnecock Hills, in 2018.
But sometimes the line of what is reasonable is crossed and on several occasions the organizer USGA has received criticism for making the courses almost unplayable.
Right here at Shinnecock Hills, hole number eleven stands out. There, the green is so undulated that it is hardly possible to stop the ball.
Is it even possible to play eleven if it blows up to 20 meters per second?
– Elvan’s green in the wrong wind direction is borderline, says Åberg.
– But I have understood that they have watered down quite a bit and tried to keep it at a reasonable level.
“Had given up”
The man responsible for the set-up of the track, John Bodenhamer, also confirms that they will work hard to keep everything at a reasonable level.
– We’ll see if the weather forecast is right, but we’ll do everything we can to make sure this is a fair competition, he says.
Spanish superstar Jon Rahm was asked earlier this week what he thought a 15-handicap player would have shot on this course.
– From our tees? A good bit over 100. Honestly, I don’t think they could have finished playing. I think they had given up, he replied.
Åberg: “Feels positive”
But then we are talking about ordinary mortals.
Ludvig Åberg & Co will obviously not give up. They will take on one of golf’s toughest tests – and on Sunday we will know who did the very best.
Åberg is now making his eleventh major appearance.
He has a career-best runner-up finish (in the 2024 Masters) and has two more top-ten finishes on his record (four in the PGA Championship and seventh in the Masters earlier this year).
Is it now the time to bang?
– Haha, hopefully! I have seen good things in training and my game has felt good for a long period. So that’s definitely positive. A lot has to be right for you to win a competition like this at a facility like this, but hopefully we can give ourselves a good chance on Sunday, says Ludvig Åberg.
He tees off at 1:52 p.m., Swedish time, and plays alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy.
Our other Swede, Alex Norén, tees off at 2:03 p.m.
Notable start times, Thursday
1:30 p.m.: Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup
13.52: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig ÅbergTommy Fleetwood
14.03: Alex NorénMaverick McNealy, Sepp Straka
14.14: Mason Howell (a), Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun
19.25: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick
This is how the US Open is broadcast
All golf from the US Open is broadcast on Viaplay. During Thursday and Friday, you can also follow the main broadcast and Ludvig Åberg on Viaplay Sport
Thursday 18 June
13.30-01.30featured groups
13.30-02.00, Main broadcast and combined feed
Viaplay, Viaplay Sport and V Sport Golf
Friday 19 June
13.30-01.30featured groups
18.00-02.00Main broadcast and combined feed
Viaplay, Viaplay Sport and V Sport Golf
Saturday 20 June
16.00-02.00featured groups
18.00-02.00Main broadcast and combined feed
Viaplay and V Sport Golf
Sunday 21 June
16.00-02.00featured groups
17.00-01.00Main broadcast and combined feed
Viaplay and V Sport Golf
