The word “special” has been getting used a lot in reference to the young Swede, which is not surprising given the quality of his play and his results immediately after turning professional.

Anyway, the rise and rise of Ludvig got me thinking. I’m like most tour pros in it takes an awful lot to really impress me. But a few players have over the years.

The different ones. These are the special ones. The ones that make you stop, look and listen.

Here then are the few who have done all of that for me.

Greg Norman

I spent a lot of time when I was young watching tournament golf in Melbourne. I can recall seeing Greg playing in the Aussie Masters at Huntingdale. The whole field would be hitting irons off the tees to keep the ball on the narrow fairways. It was single-file out there, with balls being lost all over the place. But Greg hit driver everywhere and won by six. He was playing a different sport. No one else was close. They were all trying not to make bogeys and he was trying to make birdies and eagles.

RIGHT: PHOTO: Getty Images.

Still, I can’t say I got the ‘special’ feeling watching Greg at that stage. I was too young and hadn’t seen enough golf. But, looking back, I know for sure he was different and special.

I used to sit on the range at Royal Melbourne when I was a kid and watch the best players. I never looked back at the car park behind where I was. But when Greg appeared I just knew. And I would turn round and there he was. It was magical. And something I can’t explain.

Ernie Els

Back in my amateur days, I spent the 1996 northern hemisphere summer in Europe. I didn’t qualify for the Open at Royal Lytham, but my travelling companion, Stevie Allan did. So, I had access to the range. I was wandering around watching the stars warm up.

RIGHT: PHOTO: Getty Images.

Then I saw Ernie hitting a driver. It was immediately different and better. I was transfixed. The ball came off his club in a way that no one else’s did. It’s hard to describe. I’m sure you could put the top-ten drivers on tour on Trackman and they would all be about the same.

Yet Ernie would just look better to the naked eye. It’s like when Jimi Hendrix picked up a guitar. Everyone thought, ‘well, I can’t do that.’

Whatever it is, it is the thing we just don’t understand. And Ernie had it.

Seve Ballesteros

Seve was different when he walked past you. I remember being excited to meet him because of one shot he hit. It was the chip from just left of the 18th green at Royal Lytham that clinched the 1988 Open Championship. My goodness, it’s a beautiful thing. It still makes the hairs on my arm stand up when I see it for the 10,000th time. And maybe the coolest thing is that the ball lipped out rather than dropping.

RIGHT: Getty Images.

It was the way he did it. He wasted no time. He didn’t have a 60-degree wedge. And he got down there and hit the best chip of all-time to win the biggest event in the game. It was outrageous. Chipping is the hardest thing to do well under pressure.

When I got to the European Tour, Seve was sadly beyond his best. But he still had ‘it,’ even when he walked into a dining room with his navy-blue Boss sweater draped over his shoulders. He was like a movie star. And he never lost his short game. When he went to the chipping green many players would go too, just to watch. It was hard to define, but just the way he held the club was better than anyone else.

You could never scientifically measure what Seve did with short shots. But they and he just looked better. He was like Messi with a football at his feet. Or Federer hitting a tennis ball. Everyone else is doing the same thing, but they just look superior – and unattainable.

Seve used to play a lot of practice rounds with Jose Maria Olazabal, who had a wonderful short game. You’d see them out there, chipping around greens. And Jose would hit amazing shots. But still Seve looked better doing it. Some things you just can’t explain.

Tiger Woods

I first saw Tiger hit shots at the 1996 Open. He was still an amateur. And yes, he was impressive. But I wasn’t totally blown away.

Three years or so later I played with him in Germany. After four or five holes I thought to myself, ‘no one has ever played golf like this guy.’ Which is not so surprising, looking back. Tiger circa 1997-2002 was probably the best we’ve ever seen.

RIGHT: PHOTO: Getty Images.

Anyway, he was hitting drives on holes where you could take on a fairway bunker. Every shot would look like he was challenging the hazard. But he wasn’t really. Every shot was aimed well inside the bunker line. So, whatever happened, he was going to be fine. It was amazing to watch. He had such control with the longest club in the bag. And he did it all day. Ridiculous.

Later that same year, I played with Tiger again, this time in Thailand. We were paired with Rod Pampling. I’ll never forget this. On a par-5, we all hit decent drives. I was maybe five-yards behind Rod and he was five behind Tiger.

After a bit of debate, I laid up short of the water in front of the green. Rod went for the carry with his 3-wood and came up short. Tiger then hit this ridiculous 4-iron over the moon to eight feet. Unbelievable. Outrageous. It isn’t often I’ve seen someone hit a shot and thought, ‘I can’t do that.’ But I did that day. 

Rory McIlroy

It was 2007 at Carnoustie when I first saw Rory. It was a bit like seeing Tiger in ’96. Rory won the silver medal in the Open and I could see he was pretty good. But I wasn’t blown away. Not yet.

Two years later I changed my mind.

RIGHT: PHOTO: Getty Images.

I played Rory in the quarter-final of the World Match Play in Arizona. I won the tournament so I don’t need to tell you I beat him. But immediately after our match – which I won 2&1 – I knew. Standing on the 15th tee, I was 2up. I then birdied the next three holes. And had to do so. Because Rory did too. Heading back in a van to the clubhouse, I sat down beside

my caddie, Squirrel. He turned to me and said we had just seen the next No.1 player in the world. I couldn’t disagree. It was so obvious.

No one on tour at that time was hitting the ball like Rory was hitting it. It was a noise thing. The sound he made at impact was like nothing else. It sounded better and still does.

Louis Oosthuizen

I was drawn to play with Louis in a tournament at a time when I was doing well on tour. I’d hit my drive off the 1st tee and had to get a marker or something out of my bag. So, I wasn’t actually watching when Louis hit, which is a bit disrespectful. But it is what it is.

RIGHT: PHOTO: Getty Images.

Anyway, I heard him drive off. I was like, ‘what was that?’ Instantly, I knew this guy could hit the ball better than anyone else. One shot was all it took. I’ve loved Louis’ game ever since. Ever since I heard him hit a driver. It is so right he won the Open at the best venue, St. Andrews.