Ludvig Aberg, the former World No. 1 amateur and the top player in the PGA Tour University ranking, has committed to play in the 2023 John Deere Classic, the PGA tournament announced Monday, June 12.
Mr. Aberg, 23, a native of Eslov, Sweden, played in his first event as a pro last week at the RBC Canadian Open. He finished T-25, recording a 7-under-par total 281 with rounds of 69-72-71-69 and earning $64,850.
By virtue of his No. 1 ranking on PGA Tour University, he earned the right to go directly to the PGA Tour without having to qualify via the Korn Ferry Tour.
“We are thrilled that Ludvig has committed to play in this year’s John Deere Classic,” JDC Tournament Director Andrew Lehman said in a news release. “Ludwig is the kind of up-and-coming young player we love. The John Deere Classic has been a proving ground for many like him who were just starting their professional careers.”
A former Texas Tech Red Raider, Mr. Aberg won eight college tournaments, was the back-to-back winner of the prestigious Ben Hogan Award in 2022 and 2023, and won the 2023 Haskins and Nicklaus awards for collegiate excellence.
The 52nd edition of the Quad Cities-based PGA Tour event will be conducted Wednesday to Sunday, July 5-9, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis with J.T. Poston as defending champion. In a wire-to-wire victory, Mr. Poston won by three shots in 2022 with a 21-under par total for the 72-hole event. The tournament will offer a $7.4 million purse, an increase of $300,000.
