Ludvig Åberg eyes Torrey Pines revenge after ‘mysterious’ illness disparaged him

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Three weeks ago, Ludvig Åberg paraded around Torrey Pines, posted a 9-under 63 during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open, and looked destined to win another title on the PGA Tour.

Then hell struck. Åberg became violently ill after his second round and struggled to make his way through days three and four. He reportedly got sick while on the course, and the Swede said that he lost eight pounds in about two days because of this ‘mysterious’ illness.

“I don’t know. If I knew, I would tell you,” Åberg said when asked if he had a diagnosis.

“My first initial reaction was food poisoning because it was sort of the timeline made sense, but then it sort of shifted to the fever. I don’t know. All I know is it wasn’t enjoyable and I’m glad I’m over it.”

Åberg withdrew from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am the following week, as his stomach bug turned into the chills. He labored in Monterrey, posting a 5-over 77 before his body forced him to call it quits after the first round. He needed to rest.

But now, two weeks later, he is back in Southern California, feeling healthy again, and he is ready to exact revenge.

“Since the news broke that we were going to come back here, I was thrilled,” Åberg said.

“I love this place. I think it’s one of the best golf courses that we play. [Thursday] was tough, but today was a lot more normal Torrey Pines days with the west wind and the sunny skies. Really pleased to be here again.”

Åberg sits at 4-under through 36 holes and carded a masterful 6-under 66 on Friday to soar up the leaderboard. He is four strokes behind Davis Thompson, who shot a 66 of his own.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.