SI World Golf Rankings: Ludvig Aberg Proves He’s Ryder Cup-Ready

Ludvig Aberg rallied in Switzerland for his first pro title and bagged a spot on the European Ryder Cup team. See how high the 23-year-old landed on our latest list of top golfers in the world.

Jeff Ritter | Sep 5, 2023

SI World Golf Rankings: Ludvig Aberg Proves He’s Ryder Cup-Ready /

Ludvig Aberg hoisted a trophy at the Omega European Masters, and then landed an even bigger prize when Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald named the 23-year-old as one of his six wild card picks. So, Aberg’s star has never been brighter, and with the win he’s up 11 spots to No. 117 in this week’s Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings, our proprietary, data-driven list of the top 100 men’s golfers in the world right now. (Here’s how we run our numbers.)

And so the Ryder Cup rosters are set for the competition in Rome in three weeks. But the DP World Tour continues this week, where several future Ryder Cuppers are in the field, including Shane Lowry. There will still be movement in the SIWGR as top players continue to compete this fall.

Here's a closer look at the risers and fallers in this week’s Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings.

3 Risers in the SI World Golf Rankings

Ludvig Aberg

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

This Week: 117

Last Week: 128

Skinny: The Tour rookie birdied four of his last five holes on Sunday in Switzerland to win his first DP World Tour event and bag a Ryder Cup captain’s pick in the process. Once the top-ranked amateur in the world, Aberg is already in rarified air as a pro.

Adrian Meronk - Up 2 Spots

Adrian Meronk is shown at the 2021 U.S. Open. — Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports

This Week: 142

Last Week: 144

Skinny: Meronk isn’t the biggest riser, but he’s notable for being perhaps Luke Donald’s biggest snub among his captain’s picks. Meronk was in contention at the Omega European Masters before finishing T13. In the end, not enough for Luke Donald.

Nicolai Hojgaard – Up 2 Spots

Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark looks on as Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark prepares to putt on the 16th green on Day Three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. — Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

This Week: 127

Last Week: 129

Skinny: Another of Luke Donald’s captain’s picks, Hojgaard, who has a twin brother named Rasmus, tied for fifth in Switzerland. The 22-year-old Dane joins Aberg in the new wave of European Ryder Cuppers.

3 Fallers in the SI World Golf Rankings

Dustin Johnson - Down 5 Spots

Dustin Johnson of the United States reacts after playing their shot on the 14th hole on Day Two of The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 21, 2023 in Hoylake, England. — Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

This Week: 33

Last Week: 28

Skinny: The SIWGR awards points for LIV Golf events, but the LIV tour has been off since the Aug. 13 Bedminster event, so DJ and his fellow LIV players have not earned points in the SIWGR since then. LIV next plays Sept. 22-24 in Chicago.

Joaquin Niemann – Down 8 Spots

Joaquin Niemann is pictured during the 2023 Masters. — Mark Baker/AP

This Week: 65

Last Week: 57

Skinny: Another LIV Golfer who has not earned points toward the SIWGR in more than a month.

Jason Kokrak – Down 9 Spots

This Week: 97

Last Week: 106

Skinny: Like his LIV colleagues, no points earned since Bedminster.

Published Sep 5, 2023

JEFF RITTER

Jeff Ritter is the managing director of SI Golf. He has more than 20 years of sports media experience, and previously was the general manager at the Morning Read, where he led that business's growth and joined SI as part of an acquisition in 2022. Earlier in his career he spent more than a decade at SI and Golf Magazine, and his journalism awards include a MIN Magazine Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.