Rising golf star Ludvig Åberg has withdrawn from The American Express after two strong rounds, citing illness just before his third-round tee time. The 26-year-old Swede was at 9-under par, positioning him well to make the cut in the $9.2 million PGA Tour event in La Quinta, California. His exit adds to a series of withdrawals, including those of Luke Clanton, Rico Hoey, and former champion Nick Dunlap.
The American Express, a unique PGA Tour event played across three courses over four days, has faced multiple setbacks this week in the Palm Springs area. Ludvig Åberg, a late addition to the field as noted by tournament executive director Pat McCabe, started strongly with rounds of 68 and 67, reaching 9-under par through 36 holes. This placed him just above the projected cut line and eight shots behind co-leaders Scottie Scheffler and Blades Brown. However, about 30 minutes before his tee time on Saturday at PGA West’s Stadium Course, Åberg withdrew due to illness, as announced by Underdog Golf and confirmed by PGA Tour communications.
Åberg’s absence marks the fourth notable withdrawal from the tournament. Amateur Luke Clanton and Rico Hoey both pulled out on Friday after struggling in the first round, neither breaking 70. Nick Dunlap, the defending champion who made history as the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since 1910, exited after the second round due to injury. McCabe highlighted the event's strengthened field this year, attributing it to schedule changes that attracted players like Åberg, Adam Scott, and Max Homa. “I think because of that change in schedule we have seen an influx of players who maybe wouldn’t historically play our event, and we are thankful for that,” McCabe said.
This withdrawal echoes Åberg’s experience from a year ago, when illness derailed his performance at the Farmers Insurance Open—he finished T-42 after an opening 63 at Torrey Pines—and led to a first-round withdrawal at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He rebounded two weeks later with a victory at the Genesis Invitational. Åberg, who last competed in an official PGA Tour event at the Tour Championship in September 2025, had a standout 2025 season with six top-10 finishes, a second Tour win at Genesis, and selection as a captain’s pick for Team Europe in the Ryder Cup. No further details on Åberg’s condition have been released.
