McIlroy hails 'incredible' Aberg as Ryder Cup looms / Photo: Fabrice COFFRINI - AFP/File
-
Gasly a 'class act' says Alpine boss after Monza pole
-
'Are we ready?' Oasis film captures band's frosty reunion
-
Athletic Bilbao crush Simeone's flat Atletico
-
Commemoration held for late Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladic
-
Stay far from battlefield, warns Japanese director in Vietnam War film
-
Haaland keeps new-look Man City perfect in Premier League, blunt Spurs held
-
Tens of thousands of Croatians protest over hazardous waste
-
Alpine's Gasly takes shock pole for Italian Grand Prix
-
Haaland heads unconvincing Man City top of Premier League
-
Nwaneri helps Dortmund to comeback win on Bundesliga debut
-
US envoys in Moscow as Russia and Ukraine vow not to hit capitals during talks
-
US military says destroys Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks
-
Motorsport governing body rejects Alpine boss's claims of bias
-
US envoys in Moscow for Ukraine war negotiations
-
US envoy on West Bank visit says Israel has responsibility for Palestinians
-
Commemoration held for late Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladic
-
Ethiopian Miss World contestant spotlights pain of sister's murder
-
Russell on top ahead of Hamilton in final Italian GP practice
-
'Leader' Raphinha rising to Barca striker challenge
-
Motorsport governing body rejects Alpine boss's claims of impartiality
-
Oasis fans gather in Venice for band reunion film
-
Flick hoping Barca's Yamal can face Valencia after knock
-
Two Nepal rescues revive hopes 10 days after flood
-
Trump envoys land in Moscow for Russia-Ukraine peace push
-
Pogacar to miss worlds after season-ending Vuelta crash
-
Russia hits Kyiv airports as Trump peace envoys awaited
-
Greenwood, Guendouzi handed bans after Fenerbahce-Lyon brawl
-
Nepal tunnel rescue revives hopes 10 days after flood
-
In Iceland, the mystery of the poet, the tomb and the Danish grocer
-
Indonesia rescues second orangutan mother and baby from wildfire
-
Ratko Mladic: Bosnian Serb commander to convicted war criminal
-
Box office magnet Robert Pattinson appears in paedophile thriller
-
Bolivian army base blasts kill two, wound dozens
-
How haze from Indonesian fires impacts Southeast Asia
-
Alcaraz, Sabalenka into US Open last 16 as Williams sisters lose on return
-
Trump sends envoys to Moscow, Kyiv with new plan to 'end war'
-
Williams sisters fall in thrilling return to US Open doubles
-
'Mini-dictatorship': Students slam Argentina-run residence in Paris
-
Bangladesh measles toll nears grim 1,000-child mark
-
The disgraced banker stirring the pot in Brazil's Supreme Court
-
Bolivia farmers return to streets over diesel price hikes
-
Panama Canal begins reducing crossings due to El Nino
-
Tetris distances itself from controversial White House 'arcade' games
-
Trump again seeks to remove protections for wolves
-
Africa bigger, US smaller - UN adopts new map
-
'Getting there' - Alcaraz into US Open last 16 along with Sabalenka
-
Bad weather will not affect All Blacks, says captain Savea
-
Isak ready to show world his quality, says Van Dijk
-
Mbappe misses penalty as Parrott lifts Betis past Real Madrid
-
Stuttgart cruise past Cologne to bounce back from Bayern thumping
McIlroy hails 'incredible' Aberg as Ryder Cup looms
Rory McIlroy says he is at the front of the Ludvig Aberg "bandwagon" as the rising star prepares to make his Ryder Cup debut later this month.
Aberg was hailed as a generational talent by Europe captain Luke Donald after he gave the 23-year-old Swede one of his six wild cards for the upcoming contest against the United States.
The former world number one amateur only turned professional in June but won the final qualifying event in Switzerland and will make the quickest transition from the amateur ranks to the Ryder Cup in the contest's history.
Four-time major winner McIlroy, in the field for this week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, said he had played alongside Aberg in practice at the Ryder Cup venue, near Rome, this week.
World number two McIlroy teamed up with Tommy Fleetwood, losing to Aberg and Viktor Hovland.
"I had an opportunity to play with Ludvig for the first time on Monday, which I was excited about," he said. "I told him I've been looking forward to this for a while."
Asked if Aberg had lived up to his expectations, Mcllroy added: "Probably exceeded them. Everyone talks about what a great driver of the golf ball he is, which he is.
"The ball-striking is incredible. But I was really impressed with his wedge play and how he can sort of control his trajectory with shorter clubs. I was on the bandwagon before and I'm certainly at the front of it now."
McIlroy partnered Shane Lowry and Ian Poulter, twice, in the last Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in 2021, but lost all three matches.
He beat Xander Schauffele in the opening singles on the final day but Europe crashed to a humiliating 19-9 defeat.
The 34-year-old, who was left out of a session for the first time since making his debut in 2010, talked of the pain of the defeat.
"We're not used to playing for other people in this game, and you go out there and you're playing for your team-mates, you want to do well for them," he said.
"I felt like I didn't do that and I felt like I didn't give a good account of myself and that stung and the scoreline stung."
The Ryder Cup takes place at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club from September 29 to October 1.
G.AbuOdeh--SF-PST
