World number four Ludvig Aberg insisted he felt lucky to have had the chance to win some of golf’s biggest events even when he had come up short in the final round.
The 24-year-old, who only turned professional in June last year, has won an event on both the PGA and DP World Tours and seven top-10 finishes this season mean he is currently one of the most in-form golfers.
But there have been at least three occasions when he has squandered 56-hole leads: The BMW PGA last year when he was two clear and shot 76, last month’s US Open when he led by one heading into the final day and Sunday’s Scottish Open when he was again two ahead but never looked like closing things out at The Renaissance Club.
However, rather than dwell on missed opportunities, the Swede – who helped Europe win the Ryder Cup three months after turning professional – prefers to see it as part of his rather-rapid learning curve.
“I still felt like there was a lot of good things last week and if you put it in a bigger perspective, I’m obviously very happy with a top-five finish,” said Aberg ahead of his Open debut at Royal Troon.
“I’ve learned a lot that I like being in that situation. I think that’s the main thing. I try not to shy away from it.
“In football you talk a lot about wanting the ball and that’s what I try to tell myself and that’s what I want to do. I enjoy the pressure.
“That’s what you want. That’s why you play and practice all these hours. To be in that situation is just cool.
“Anytime you are in that situation, you discover things about yourself, whether that’s emotions that show up or anything (else) that shows up that you can take away.
“I’ve been fortunate to have had a few of those experiences over the last couple of months. I think anytime you are there, it just gets easier.”
