While eager to soak in the experience, Ludvig Åberg is fully focused on the task at hand – putting himself in contention to win The 152nd Open on debut.
The Swede arrives at Royal Troon for the final Major Championship of the year as one of the most in-form golfers, with three top tens in his last six starts worldwide.
The latest of those came at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, where he settled for a tie for fourth at The Renaissance Club as Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre won his national Open.
Amid high pre-tournament expectations, Åberg finished runner-up at the Masters Tournament in April and has since finished tied 12th at last month’s U.S. Open having held the halfway lead.
And while he was also unable to capitalise on the 54-hole lead last week in Scotland, the 24-year-old is using those near-misses to fuel his hunger to continue contending for golf’s biggest tournaments.
"I've learned a lot that I like being in that situation," he said. "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. I think that's what you want.
"That's why you play and practice all these hours. To be in that situation is just cool. It's fun to see the people around enjoying, watching golf, and then enjoying watching you play, and ultimately that's why you play golf.
"Anytime you are in that situation, you discover things about yourself, whether that's emotions that shows up or anything that shows up really 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."
Since turning professional just over 12 months ago, Åberg has won maiden titles on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR and also played on a victorious European Ryder Cup team, making history as the first player to compete in a Ryder Cup before ever having teed up in a Major.
He has risen to fourth on the Official World Golf Ranking, but despite his lofty standing in the game he is showing no signs of feeling burdened by the expectation that it brings.
Asked whether he has had time to take stock of what he has achieved so far since becoming the first collegiate player to earn status on the PGA TOUR through PGA Tour University, he replied: "Right now you're just so into it going from tournament to tournament and trying to play as well as you can.
"Yeah, it's been a lot of fun these last 12 months, 13 months. Very fortunate to have had a lot of those experiences.
"Ultimately, I'm just trying to play good golf and trying to have fun with me and my team and my coaches and whatnot. It's cool. Hopefully we'll have many, many more years to come." .
Åberg admitted this is his first on-site taste of golf's original championship - albeit he did get his first look at Royal Troon with Ryder Cup teammate Viktor Hovland last Monday - but as a European this is the Major that holds the biggest meaning to him, with countryman Henrik Stenson having won the Claret Jug the last time The Open visited Royal Troon in 2016.
"It is the one that's closer to home, definitely, and it is the one that I've watched growing up a little bit more, a little bit closer," he said.
I've said that a few times before, that day should be a national holiday in Sweden. It was a very cool day.
I vividly remember watching that with my friends, and it's cool to see what he's done for Swedish golf, and he's doing, so obviously was the pinnacle of that.
"So I do feel that connection to The Open and to the UK. I love being here. I love playing these tournaments, and really looking forward to it."
