‘I like my chances’: Ludvig Aberg’s bet with caddie inspires hole-in-one at Genesis

Ludvig Aberg is on a roll at the 2025 Genesis Invitational. Multiple hole-outs, including his first-career hole-in-one, have him within striking distance of the lead heading into Sunday’s final round. And a bet with his caddie is providing some extra motivation.

Not that the pros need additional financial incentive this week at Torrey Pines. The total purse is a gargantuan $20 million. The winner will take home a whopping $4 million.

But there’s something about a golf bet, especially with a friend or co-worker, that can inspire an extra competitive fire. And Aberg’s week is a good example.

News

The 25-year-old Swedish pro holed out a long bunker shot for eagle on Torrey’s 18th hole in the second round. And when discussing the shot with reporters afterward, he revealed the existence of a bet he has with his caddie, Joe Skovron.

“Yeah, we sort of knew if you get a good lie in that left bunker it’s sort of a makeable shot. Obviously anytime you make a shot off the green it’s a bonus. All I tried to do was get it somewhat close and make a birdie,” Aberg said of the shot on Friday. “It was nice to see it go in. I have a little bet with my caddie, Joe, to see how many hole-outs we can do this year, so that was one for the count.”

“I’m at four,” Aberg explained of his bunker hole-out. “So we’re doing through Hilton Head and I need to get to seven, so I’ve got a couple more.”

To translate: Aberg and his caddie made a bet on whether the pro can make seven hole-outs from the beginning of the 2025 season through the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island, which goes down the week after the Masters in April.

As for the stakes of the Tour player-caddie bet, Aberg revealed that some green is up for grabs.

“I lose money to Joe, so I don’t want to do that,” Aberg said on Friday.

And if Aberg should win the bet, Skovron will have to pay an undisclosed amount as well.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Aberg said.

And by the end of play on Saturday, the veteran caddie had reason to be a little more nervous about the wager. That’s because Aberg didn’t just record a second hole-out in Round 3, he did it in style.

On the scenic par-3 3rd hole at Torrey’s South Course, he dropped his wedge a few feet beyond the cup and spun it back in for his first-career hole-in-one.

“It was a pitching wedge. I think it played 115 meters, something like that. It was one of them that I actually hit the shot I wanted to as well, which is nice when it goes in. Yeah, hit a little cut pitching wedge up in the wind and landed behind it and came back,” Aberg said of his ace. “It was a really cool moment. I’ve never made a hole-in-one in tournament play before, so it was a first for sure.”

And while the money he could win on Sunday is likely motivation enough to inspire his best play, Aberg didn’t lose sight of the ramifications his hole-in-one had on his bet with Skovron.

When asked if the Saturday ace helped his bet, Aberg said, “It did, it got me one closer. I’m at five now. I like my chances.”

His next shot comes on Sunday, when he’ll try to overcome a two-shot deficit to capture his second Tour victory. A third hole-out would certainly help his cause.