Youngest U.S. Open winners: How Ludvig Aberg would compare to Jordan Spieth, other major champions

The U.S. Open annually invites a massive field of competitors, many of whom just don’t have much experience in major championships. Most of the inexperienced golfers on the course aren’t ranked No. 6 in the world, though.

Ludvig Aberg will take the course at Oakmont with just six major appearances under his belt, but he already ranks among the world’s best after a hot start to his career that included an impressive second-place finish at the Masters. 

The U.S. Open has seen a few first-time winners over the last handful of years, including Wyndham Clark two years ago, but he was 29 at the time of his victory. Aberg could be position be one of the youngest U.S. Open winners in recent memory.

Here’s a look at Aberg’s age and where he would rank among the youngest winners in U.S. Open history.

MORE: U.S. Open winners by player: Who has won the most U.S. Open titles in golf history?

Youngest U.S. Open winners

One of the nine youngest U.S. Open champions is not like the rest. While the eight youngest all won more than 100 years ago, Jordan Spieth joined the 21-and-under club by capturing the title in 2015 just two months after his Masters victory.

John McDermott holds the record for youngest player to win the U.S. Open, doing so at just 19 years old in 1911. He would win at age 20 a year later. 

Aberg would be the youngest U.S. Open winner since Spieth in 2015, but he wouldn’t come close to McDermott, Spieth or the other seven players to win the tournament at 21 or younger.

Here’s a closer look at Aberg’s age and how can still make some history at Oakmont.

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How old is Ludvig Aberg?

Aberg is 25 years old. He’s set to turn 26 on Oct. 31. 

Aberg is inexperienced, but he’s not shockingly young for a U.S. Open contender. A look at the leaderboard shows a handful of younger golfers, including 22-year-old Tom Kim and even 24-year-old Nicolai Hojgaard, so a 25-year-old U.S. Open champion wouldn’t be unprecedented.

While Aberg just turned professional last year, he’s older because he enjoyed a full college career at Texas Tech. Aberg swept golf’s three national player of the year awards at the college level in his senior season, and that time he spent refining his game in Lubbock seems to have paid off considering how quickly he was able to emerge as one of the world’s steadiest golfers on the national stage.

Between Aberg’s youth and inexperience, however, a U.S. Open win would certainly be a rare feat. He would be the youngest U.S. Open winner since Spieth in 2015, and it’s been far longer since a player won his U.S. Open debut.

Here’s a look at what kind of history Aberg can make by winning the U.S. Open in his second appearance.

MORE: Scottie Scheffler’s complete majors timeline

Has anyone won their U.S. Open debut?

Only five golfers have won the event in their first appearance, but all did so more than 110 years ago. Here’s the complete list:

MORE: Bryson DeChambeau’s complete majors timeline