Latest news with #StevenGerrard
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ex-Rangers star who Steven Gerrard eviscerated for jumping ship for 'bigger wage' is having medical at Wrexham
A former Rangers attacker who received an ear bashing from Steven Gerrard following his hasty departure from Ibrox is expected to sign for Wrexham as a free agent Wrexham are on the brink of signing a former Rangers player who was previously criticised by Steven Gerrard in a candid Zoom call. Josh Windass is widely expected to undergo a medical on Monday before joining the Welsh club as a free agent. It follows the 31-year-old, son of Hull City legend Dean Windass, leaving Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent amid ongoing issues with the club's failure to pay players' wages promptly. Windass was one of Wednesday's standout performers in the English Championship last season, netting 13 goals and providing five assists. Rangers were among the clubs said to have courted him over a potential return to Ibrox this summer. However, Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are believed to have won the race for his signature ahead of their first season in the English second tier in 43 years, according to the BBC. Windass had a two-year stint at Rangers after initially joining in the summer of 2016, scoring 19 goals in 73 appearances. He departed to join Wigan Athletic on transfer deadline day in August 2018 in a deal worth approximately £2.5m. In an interview on the Open Goal podcast in May, Windass disclosed how he hastily headed south after hearing about Wigan's interest from then-Rangers manager Gerrard. He admitted regretting the decision and later received a stern reprimand from the Liverpool icon over the manner of his exit. "It was a bad decision but I just went straight down the motorway," Windass said. "I don't know [why]. I just followed my gut at that moment in time and then a week later [I regretted it]. "We had a Zoom call about six months later because I was going to go back on loan in January and Paul Cook wouldn't let me go. Then Gerrard basically gave me what for on the Zoom call. "He told me everything that was wrong with me and what I did and how I can improve as a person. He said, 'If we're going to bring you back we need to have an honest conversation,' and I never went back anyway. That was it. It was a bad couple of weeks." Revealing how rapidly he recognised his blunder, he added: "[I knew I'd made the wrong decision] after my first training session. Mick Beale was texting me saying, 'You're making a big mistake.' I was 23. I was stupid. I just wanted a bigger wage." Windass remained at Wigan for two seasons before switching to Wednesday in 2020 and became instrumental as the Owls secured promotion from League One in 2023. His anticipated switch to Wrexham has materialised despite reported interest from Championship rivals Coventry, Derby and Norwich. Wrexham have been active in the transfer window this summer after registering three consecutive promotions. Plymouth forward Ryan Hardie became their first signing, with Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward following suit. The Red Dragons recently splashed out a record-breaking sum to secure left-back Liberato Cacace from Empoli. They have also reportedly had a £1.2m offer accepted for Bolton captain George Thomason, as per the Bolton News.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham set medical for free agent who Steven Gerrard tore to shreds over Zoom call
Wrexham are close to signing a player once heavily scolded by Steven Gerrard during his time in charge of Rangers as they look to boost their squad for the Championship Wrexham are on the verge of signing a player who was torn apart by Steven Gerrard during a frank Zoom call. Josh Windass is expected to have a medical on Monday ahead of joining the Red Dragons as a free agent after leaving Sheffield Wednesday last week. The attacker, son of Hull City legend Dean Windass, departed the Owls by mutual agreement, with the club currently under scrutiny after repeatedly failing to pay players' wages on time. He was one of Wednesday's star performers in the Championship last season, scoring 13 goals and registering five assists. The 31-year-old has attracted interest from several teams this summer, including his former club Rangers. However, Wrexham, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, are reported by the BBC to have won the battle to secure his services ahead of their first season in the second tier for 43 years. Windass previously spent two years at Rangers after first joining in the summer of 2016, scoring 19 goals in 73 appearances. But he left to sign for Wigan Athletic on transfer deadline day in August 2018 in a deal worth around £2.5m. Speaking on the Open Goal podcast in May this year, Windass revealed how he jumped in his car and headed south with barely a second thought after learning of Wigan's interest from Rangers' then-manager Gerrard. But he said he ended up regretting the decision and later received a dressing down from the Liverpool legend over the manner of his departure. "It was a bad decision but I just went straight down the motorway," Windass said. "I don't know (why). I just followed my gut at that moment in time and then a week later (I regretted it). "We had a Zoom call about six months later because I was going to go back on loan in January and Paul Cook wouldn't let me go. Then Gerrard basically gave me what for on the Zoom call. "He told me everything that was wrong with me and what I did and how I can improve as a person. He said, 'If we're going to bring you back we need to have an honest conversation,' and I never went back anyway. That was it. It was a bad couple of weeks." Highlighting how quickly he realised his error, he added: "(I knew I'd made the wrong decision) after my first training session. Mick Beale was texting me saying, 'You're making a big mistake'. I was 23. I was stupid. I just wanted a bigger wage." Windass spent two years at Wigan before moving to Wednesday in 2020 and played a crucial role as the Owls achieved promotion from League One in 2023. His expected arrival at Wrexham also comes despite claimed interest from second tier rivals Coventry, Derby and Norwich. The Welsh outfit have been busy in the transfer market this summer after achieving three successive promotions. Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie was their first arrival, followed by Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward. Wrexham then splashed their cash last week to lure left-back Liberato Cacace from Empoli for a club-record fee. The Red Dragons have also had a bid of £1.2m accepted as they look to sign Bolton captain George Thomason, according to the Bolton News. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Rise of the MAGs (that's middle-aged grandparents!): Steven Gerrard joins the ranks of 40-something stars who have welcomed grandchildren
While celebrities are known for holding back the years with expensive beauty treatments and intense fitness regimes, there's no event quite as ageing - albeit joyful - like becoming a grandparent. That said, when Steven Gerrard welcomed his first granddaughter this week, aged 45, he joined the ranks of celebrities who are have entered their grandparent era early in mid-life. He's in good company with Danny Dyer, Dean Gaffney, and Snoop Dogg who were all just 43 when they became grandfathers for the first time. Meanwhile, actress Kym Marsh revealed last month that she is set to become a grandmother for the fourth time at the age of 49. In some cases, stars who became parents at a young age, then divorced and started second families, have young children who are only a few years older than the new arrivals. For instance, Ronan Keating's youngest daughter Coco was just three years old when his granddaughter - her niece - was born in 2023. Steven Gerrard - 45 Steven Gerrard, 45, became a grandad at this week when his daughter, Lilly-Ella, welcomed her first child - a baby girl. The influencer, 21, took to Instagram to share a black and white image of her boyfriend Lee Byrne, leaving the hospital whilst carrying their newborn in a car seat. She simply captioned the photo, '@leebyrne8 2 becomes 3'. The eldest child of the former England footballer announced she was expecting her first child in January. Lilly has been in a relationship with Lee Byrne - the son of a jailed Irish gangster - since October 2022, and their romance made headlines when it first came to light. Former midfielder Steven has four children with wife Alex - daughters Lilly, Lexie, 19, Lourdes, 14, and a son named Lio, eight. Lilly announced her pregnancy news in January, sharing a photo of her positive pregnancy test and telling her 222,000 Instagram followers: 'Our little secret. The best news... mini us is on the way.' Responding to his daughter's post, Gerrard wrote: 'We can't wait. Congratulations and we love you.' Lilly's partner - with whom she was first linked in 2022 - is the son of Kinahan Cartel gangster Liam Byrne, who was issued a five and a half year prison sentence for a plot to stockpile a stash of machine guns. Ronan Keating - 46 Ronan Keating, who is a father-of-five, became a grandfather for the first time aged 46 in 2023. The Boyzone singer shares three children with his ex-wife Yvonne Connolly and two children with his current wife Storm Keating. His eldest son Jack became a father aged 23 in March 2023 when he announced he had welcomed baby girl, but didn't reveal who the mother was until later. The news came as a shock because it happened just months after he left the Love Island villa - he is not in a relationship with the mother of his child. Jack announced in an Instagram post that he had welcomed a baby girl - confusing fans because he hadn't mentioned a child before. He had appeared on the ITV2 show eight months prior - meaning his baby daughter was likely conceived before his appearance on the show. Jack has not been public about a romantic relationship since leaving the Love Island villa but the mother was later revealed to be artist Keely Iqbal. While hosting The One Show shortly after the birth, Ronan made reference to his family's new addition while insisting he wants to be called 'pops'. When his co-host Jermaine Jenas said, 'You're a grandad now,' the former Boyzone star replied, 'Yes I am. My son had a gorgeous baby.' Jermaine then said: 'You prefer to be called something else?' with Ronan responding. 'Pops.' Dean Gaffney - 43 EastEnders star Dean Gaffney revealed he had become a grandfather at the age of 43 - after one of his twin daughters, Chloe, gave birth in July 2021. The actor, who is most famous for playing hapless Robbie on the soap, shared a picture of himself holding the baby girl, Mimi, on Instagram. In the sweet snap, he cradles the child in his arms and is looking at the newborn affectionately. He joked with his followers: 'Just to thank everyone in advance, I know I don't look old enough to be a father let alone a grandfather!' The actor shares twins, Chloe and Charlotte, with ex partner Sarah Burge. The pair met when they were just 15-years-old and dated for 22 years before they announced their split in June 2015, after he admitted to cheating on her with a string of women. Danny Dyer - 43 Danny Dyer became a grandfather at 43, after his daughter Dani welcomed her first child with her now ex-boyfriend Sammy Kimmence. The EastEnders star, who has three children, was just 18 when his wife Joanne welcomed their first child Dani, after getting together aged 14. Dani revealed her father, Danny, 'couldn't stop crying' after becoming a grandfather to her son, Santiago. Speaking on the Made By Mammas podcast, the former Love Islander confirmed the actor didn't expect to be so emotional as he said he 'never felt anything like' becoming a granddad. She said: 'My dad didn't realise [he would be so emotional about being a granddad]. He has been so emotional around Santiago, the other day he was really crying. 'He went: 'I love babies, but your baby. I have never felt anything like it. I didn't think I'd feel like this'. 'He hasn't experienced being a grandad yet, I made him a first time grandad. It has hit him more now. 'He did see me pregnant and getting bigger but seeing me with the baby, it's like, 'this is real now'.' Dani went on to welcome twins daughters named Sunny and Star in 2023 with her husband Jarrod Bowen. Kym Marsh - 46 Kym Marsh announced last month that she is to become a grandmother for a fourth time. The soap star, 49, took to Instagram with a gushing post as she revealed daughter Emilie Cunliffe and son-in Michael Hoszowskyj were expecting their second child. Kym, who shares actress Emilie, 28, with ex David Cunliffe, said she was 'thrilled' and shared a snap of the couple's son Teddy, six, and Michael's daughter Polly, nine, proudly holding an ultra sound picture. She wrote: 'I am so thrilled to share the news!!! Grandchild number 4… incoming!!! Congratulations to my beautiful daughter @listentoemilie , my wonderful son in law @mikeyhoz and Teddy and Polly!! Can't wait to meet you little one!'. Kym is also grandmother to her eldest child David's son Clayton, who he welcomed with fiancée Courtney in 2022. Kym is also mother to 14-year-old daughter Poppy whom she shares with ex-husband and Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas, as well son Archie who as born 18 weeks premature in 2009 and passed away shortly after birth Kym and Jamie first met on a train as they made their way to the 2007 TV Quick Awards before developing a romance in July 2008 - a year before Kym's divorce from ex-husband Jack Ryder. She married a third time in 2021, when she tied the knot with soldier Scott Ratcliff, before their split was announced in May 2023. Jessie Wallace - 50 EastEnders star Jessie Wallace became grandmother at 50 after her 17-year-old daughter Tallulah gave birth to her first child. The actress, who plays Kat Slater on the BBC One soap, announced the arrival of her family's new addition on her Instagram page in March 2022, saying: 'Welcome to the world, my grandson SJ. You are loved, cherished, and adored.' Jessie was congratulated by her Albert Square co-stars including Lacey Turner and Jimmy Bye, who play Stacey Slater and Martin Fowler in the long-running drama. A source close to Jessie told MailOnline at the time: 'Jessie is chuffed to bits about being a grandmother. 'Her close circle knew Tallulah was pregnant and how excited the family were. They're both looking forward to making a lifetime of memories.' The identity of the baby's father is yet to be revealed as Jessie continues to keep Tallulah out of the spotlight – and away from her social media accounts. She has rarely been pictured. Jessie shares daughter Tallulah with her ex-partner Dave Morgan but the couple split shortly after she was born. The actress began dating the policeman in 2003 after Dave accompanied her in court where she was appearing on a drink and drive charge. Snoop Dogg - 43 Snoop Dogg became a grandfather at the age of 43 when his eldest son Cordé became a father to son Zion in 2015. 'Zion. U have a lot of love Waitn on u grandson!!' Snoop Dogg wrote in an Instagram post accompanied by a montage of various family members - most of them looking fondly at the newborn. A second photo showed Snoop Dogg's wife, Shante Taylor, holding the baby, captioned as 'Proud grandma @bosslady.' In 2023 the rapper told MailOnline he had moderated his weed consumption and re-evaluated his lifestyle after becoming a grandfather 'Being a grandfather has changed me in multiple ways,' he told MailOnline. 'The main way is being concerned with how I live, how I move, the kind of people I'm associated with, because I want to see my grandkids grow old. 'The only way I can do that is to take precautionary steps as far as how I move, who I hang out with, where I go out, my intake, what am I intaking?' Last year, he revealed how many grandchildren he actually had during an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show. 'Now, OK, I was trying to imagine Snoop as a granddad. So how many grandkids do you actually have?' the host asked. 'Actually, I have a total of 12 grandkids,' he answered. 'Yes, yes I do. And they're different ages, ranges, sizes and I love them all the same way.' 'Actually, my oldest grandson, his birthday is today so I'm on my way to his birthday party when I leave here.' he told the audience. 'He's going to be 9 years old, that's Zion Broadus,' Snoop explained. Jennifer asked the My Family artist what his grandkids called him. The Doggyland star explained that Zion was the first to come up with a title. 'He used to call me Papa Noop, because he couldn't say Snoop, so he started calling me Papa Noop. And then as time went by, he learned how to say Snoop, so now I'm Papa Snoop.' Kiefer Sutherland - 39 Kiefer first became a grandfather aged 39 when his stepdaughter Michelle Kath welcomed her son Hamish in 2011. His daughter Sarah Sutherland later welcomed a son named Quinn in 2018. He previously told Australia's 7News: 'The wonderful thing about grandchildren is you give them back. So when they come to visit me, I've got my $5 and my $10 and I've got some chocolate and Coca-Colas and everything they're not supposed to have. 'I spend about two hours getting them completely wired, I give them cash so they'll come back, and then I hand them back to their mother and say 'good luck.'' Kiefer became a father himself aged 20 and credited fatherhood for putting him on the straight and narrow. In a new interview with Radio Times, the actor reflected on the early days of Hollywood and how having children saved him from decisions which could have been 'very damaging for me'. He has been charged with drink driving four times over the years, he was sentenced to 48 days in jail in 2007 after failing a sobriety test. 'I'm not a moron, I know the difference between right and wrong. It's just sometimes I've done the wrong thing,' he says. But the Designated Survivor star, who has one daughter Sarah and one stepdaughter from his second marriage, to Camelia Kath, credits his family for keeping him grounded. Keifer said having children at a such a young age made his 'get away from a bunch of other things that I think could have been very damaging for me'. Pierce Brosnan - 44 Pierce Brosnan first became a grandad at the age of 44 when his late daughter Charlotte welcomed Isabella with her husband Alex Smith. Charlotte was nine years old when her mother Cassandra, an Australian actress who played a Bond girl in For Your Eyes Only, married the star at Chelsea Registry Office in 1980. Tragically Charlotte passed away at her London home in 2013 after a three-year battle with ovarian cancer - the same disease which killed her mother Cassandra 22 years prior. Charlotte and her brother Christopher, from Cassandra's previous marriage to Dermot, were joined by a half-sibling Sean in 1983. Although Pierce and Charlotte were not biologically related, he has previously spoken of the close relationship he enjoyed with her and her brother after he married Cassandra. 'We just clicked as a family,' he said. 'To begin with I was Pierce, then I was Daddy Pierce, and then I just became Dad. Charlotte and Chris have just been amazing in my life.' Pierce adopted his wife's children after their biological father Dermot Harris died in 1986, and they changed their surname to his.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
A well-connected cartel! The Kinahans' links to the worlds of showbiz and sport - as Stephen Gerrard's daughter welcomes a baby with jailed mobster's son
Steven Gerrard is now a proud grandfather after his daughter, Lilly-Ella, gave birth to a baby girl. While this will be a moment of unbridled joy for the Liverpool and England legend, it also marks the formal coming together of two strikingly different families. After all, the baby's 25-year-old father, Lee Byrne, is the son of Liam Byrne - a senior member of Ireland's feared Kinahan Cartel. The gang - which now operates from Dubai - is one of the world's most powerful organised crime groups with a multi-million pound empire spanning drug-smuggling, arms-running, money laundering and extortion. While there is no suggestion Lee is involved in crime, his relationship with Lilly-Ella has certainly raised eyebrows, with former Garda assistant commissioner Pat Leahy previously warning Gerrard that any links with the Byrne clan did him 'no favours'. Mr Leahy made the comments in 2023, shortly after Liam was arrested over an arms smuggling plot. A year later, he was sentenced to five years in prison, a moment Lee marked by writing: 'I love you da. See you soon'. He was let out in January under Labour's early release scheme after serving just three months. While Gerrard may have been the latest public figure to face scrutiny for his Kinahan links, he is far from the first. A raft of other celebrities have also come into their orbit, from shamed UFC fighter Conor McGregor to some of the biggest names in the boxing world, including perhaps the greatest of all - Tyson Fury. Lee Byrne in Dubai with his girlfriend Lilly-Ella Gerrard (left) and her parents, former England captain Steven and his wife Alex Lee and Lilly-Ella have celebrated the bird of a baby girl, who was born on Tuesday Footballing legend Steven (pictured), 45, is now a grandfather for the first time Like Gerrard, McGregor is tied to the Kinahans through a relative - with his sister, Aoife, dating convicted drug-dealer and money-launderer Graham 'The Wig' Whelan. Whelan, 41, is a reputedly linked to the cartel, which has been blamed for gangland slayings in a string of countries including Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. Patriarch Christopher 'Christy' Kinahan, 68, began the mob in Dublin in the late 1990s, but it is now thought to be run by his 48-year-old son, Daniel. The US has offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of Christy, Daniel, and his brother - Christy Jr. Whelan has been in a relationship with Aoife since 2021, and in 2023 she went public by sharing an image of them together at McGregor's pub, the Black Forge Inn, in the Dublin suburb of Crumlin. The couple were seen sitting on the couch with a large glass of whiskey on the table in front of them. Aoife has one arm draping over his shoulder and the other on his leg. Whelan has also played several games for the pub's football team and appeared in several photographs with McGregor. It's believed the picture of Aoife and Whelan at the Black Forge Inn was taken days after he was released from jail after serving an 18-month sentence for money laundering. While there is no suggestion Lee is involved in crime, his relationship with Lilly-Ella has certainly raised eyebrows Lee's father Liam was sentenced to five years in prison last year. Lee marked the moment by writing : 'I love you da. See you soon'. He was let out in January under Labour's early release scheme after serving just three months Gerrard pictured with Nathan 'Biggie' Little, who has been previously named in the Irish High Court as a low-level member of the Byrne Organised Crime Group. This is considered the Irish wing of the Kinahan cartel Whelan was also a guest at the wedding of McGregor's other sister, Erin, in County Tipperary in August. A self-described 'dangerous criminal', Whelan was associated with David Byrne, who was shot dead in a gun attack at Dublin's Regency Hotel in February 2016. David was Liam's brother, and therefore Lee's uncle. While Daniel Kinahan is currently keeping a low profile, he previously worked as a boxing promoter in an apparent attempt to gain a reputation as a legitimate businessman. In 2012 he set up his own management company, MTK Global, which was first based in Marbella before moving to Dubai. He went on to work with some of the leading lights of boxing, including former world champion Tyson Fury. Their business relationship was openly acknowledged by the Gypsy King, who once hailed Daniel as a 'key advisor' and was pictured with him in Dubai. In June 2020, Fury credited him with helping to organise his big comeback fight against Anthony Joshua, saying in a social media video: 'I'm just after getting off the phone with Daniel Kinahan. Conor McGregor with his sister Aoife, who is going out with Kinahan associate Graham 'The Wig' Whelan Last year she went public after sharing this image of them together at McGregor's pub in Dublin McGregor (centre) is pictured at a family wedding with Whelan (left) 'He's just informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Get in there my boy! Big thank you Dan for getting this deal over the line. ' Daniel was also involved in brokering a deal for Fury's second and third fights against Deontay Wilder, as well as his bouts against Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin in 2019. Scrutiny of Fury's ties to Daniel increased in April 2022 when the US Treasury imposed sanctions on the mobster, his brother, father, and several associates. At one point, their relationship even led to the boxer being briefly banned from the US. After long refusing to share details about his relationship with Daniel, Fury finally broke his silence in April 2022 by insisting that his crime links were 'none of my business, and I don't get involved in other people's business'. Fury added that he had not dealt with the gangster 'for a long time'. Other boxers who signed up with MTK included Billy Joe Saunders, Josh Taylor and Carl Frampton. Daniel's other cheerleaders included the flyweight Sunny Edwards and former UFC fighter turned boxer Darren Till. Like Fury, none have been accused of any crimes. Tyson Fury posing with Daniel Kinahan in Dubai in 2022, when the mob boss was acting as his advisor Kinahan has previously worked with other leading British boxers, including Sunny Edwards Kinahan with former UFC fighter turned boxer Darren Till Asked in 2023 about his involvement with MTK, Frampton said he got a 'fair bit of grief' for it but did not have any regrets because they were 'good for me'. Legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum also dealt with Daniel and admitted this year to being tricked by the gangster's claims to have stepped away from crime. 'Remember at the time, things around his reputation were debatable - I fell for the thing he was a bad guy but he had changed and he had gone legit,' he told the Irish Sun. While the Kinahans have long enjoyed a glitzy lifestyle and connections with the rich and famous, their luck may soon run out. They are now believed to be planning a move from Dubai after their alleged senior associate, Sean McGovern, became the first person to be extradited from the UAE to Ireland after a treaty was finally ratified. McGovern's arrest and extradition is the latest blow to the Kinahans following the successful prosecution of their UK chief, Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh. Christy Kinahan began the Kinahan Cartel as a drug-dealing ring in Dublin in the 1990s and has expanded it into a global empire. Son Daniel (right) is believed to run its day-to-day operations Kavanagh was originally handed a 21-year jail term in 2022. He was given another six years in 2024 for amassing a stash of firearms before sharing their location with police in the hope of securing a softer sentence. As the net tightens on the Kinahans, they are said to be considering moving their base to a more welcoming location - such as the Iranian territory of Kish Island.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Ludvig Aberg on Sir Andy Murray's golf swing, the influence of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and his hopes for The Open ahead of its Portrush return
'And I'm thinking to myself, how did I get here?' asks Ludvig Aberg with wide-eyed wonderment and it's not a bad question considering our conversation has wandered from Steven Gerrard to Sir Andy Murray 's golf swing to the possibility of a dream coming true. There is also an unexpected detour to his love for Bondi Rescue, a cult Australian TV programme, but first Aberg – the world's most exciting young golfer – is taking us vividly to the moment he knew life had changed in April 2024, on Augusta's picture-perfect eleventh fairway. Aberg had turned professional 10 months earlier and, in that time, he had accomplished what many tour pros could only dream about: he had been part of a successful European Ryder Cup team and won the European Masters, showing why there had been such hype around his rise. But this young Swede is like the rest of us. When good things happen so quickly that it almost seems impossible to process, there comes a point when reflection must be taken. For Aberg, it was a stroll with Rory McIlroy, someone at that point he had only really been accustomed to seeing on TV. 'Life has changed a lot, very fast,' he says. 'I remember I had this moment at last year's Masters. I was playing practice with Rory and we were walking down number 11. He was with Harry (Diamond, his caddie) and, just for a moment, I slowed down behind them to watch. 'You know the run around 11, 12, 13 (Amen Corner) – I'm looking at all thinking: 'I only turned pro a year ago.' I couldn't believe it. It was such a cool moment. 'It will stick with me for a long time and it's important to remember. You can't ever take these things for granted.' You can see Aberg, who actually finished second that week, means it. He has reaped rich dividends already through golf but it is the history that provides his greatest inspiration and what price would you give for him and McIlroy to be walking down the 18th together this Sunday? We can discuss that in due course but we have to return to not taking things for granted, for there was another ''is this really happening moment?'' when he was approached to give marks out of 10 for a YouTube feature on the state of Murray's game. Murray, ferocious competitor that he is, would love to get into a position where he could try to compete in next year's Regional Qualifying events for The Open and, from what Aberg saw, it might not be the flight of fancy it sounds. 'Hey, that swing was really good!' Aberg says, laughing. 'Like it was really, really good! Man, I was impressed! They told us: 'be as honest as you can with him!' but I just didn't know what to say. I think he's going to be able to play really good golf in the future.' Another man who would love to say he could do play to that level in the future is Gerrard, who was a bigger figure in his childhood than any golfer. 'Gerrard was my big hero growing up,' he declares, proudly. 'I played football myself and I loved him as a player. But I loved he was the captain and he'd carry the team. 'I supported Liverpool because of him. I'm a fan and always will be. The last few weeks have been awful. I just hope everyone is ok.' The reference to Diogo Jota's tragic death is the only time in this conversation, arranged by his sponsors Mercedes, that his demeanour changes. Aberg is respectful and courteous, a man who impresses with the clarity of his words and thoughts. It has been a privilege to see him striking balls so crisply on the range in recent days and the vibes he gives suggest he might not be too far away from emulating his compatriot Henrik Stenson, who made himself a national hero in 2016 when going head-to-head with Phil Mickelson at Troon. 'Oh I remember that day,' he says enthusiastically. 'We usually have a tournament that weekend in Sweden; in 2016 it finished on the Saturday, so we sat down to watch every shot. I thought that shootout was the coolest thing I had ever seen. 'Henrik has the biggest profile in Swedish golf and he's done so much for the game. That was the pinnacle. A couple of months later, Henrik almost won the Olympics as well, so for a little 15-year-old, it was incredible to see that. This is the tournament that has such history and means so much.' You can tell, clearly, that Aberg believes his game is in the right shape to contend. He has power and sorcery, intuition and imagination and there won't be any excuses if it doesn't go as expected. Deep down, though, you suspect he will be just fine. 'I definitely feel like I have the tools and the capabilities,' he says. 'The experiences I've had recently have made me feel like I can do it. I want to win here and I want to perform. Anyone who is in the field should be thinking like that. 'If there was one thing I learnt last year it was 'it is what it is' with the weather. If it rains, I'll get my rain gear. If it's windy, I'll keep the ball flight a little bit lower. It's all part of it. I will be ready for whatever comes my way.'
