In a way, it can be considered a surprise. Alex Noren has been appointed by Luke Donald as the fifth and final vice-captain for the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage. It can be deemed a surprise because he has never held this role before, and his presence in European teams has not been particularly significant. He only participated in one edition, Paris 2018, with notable success. Europe won the tournament, and he stood out both as a foursome partner with Sergio García and in the singles, where he defeated Bryson DeChambeau. The duel ended with a spectacular putt on the 18th hole, although by that point, the Ryder was already won by Europe.
Thus, Noren joins the team of assistants already formed by the Molinari brothers (Francesco and Edoardo), José María Olazábal, and Thomas Bjorn. Probably, with the choice of Noren, they are looking for a younger profile who still shares the experience of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour week by week with the twelve men who will be part of the team. However, it should be noted that Noren was out of competition from last autumn until May this year due to an injury. Two weeks ago, he won the British Masters and even gave himself a chance to be part of the final shortlist to be on the team.
Noren, 43, stated that “it was a big shock. I didn’t expect it at all. I want to bring a good attitude to the locker room. Bring knowledge. I’ve been in this game for a long time. This Ryder Cup is going to be one of the toughest to win because of where it’s being held. There’s going to be a very tough crowd, but I think that can also fuel our players. Everyone on the team has played a lot in the United States, so we’re used to the fans, the courses, the setups.”
For his part, Donald, as expected, was full of praise for the Nordic golfer. “I am really delighted to announce Alex Noren as our final vice-captain. Alex brings a lot to the table; obviously, he is a Ryder Cup player, having played in 2018 in France, and has competed on both the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR at a very high level. He will do everything he can to help the team. He is a humble guy; it’s never about Alex. It’s always about the team, and I think he has great qualities that will be vital for his role as vice-captain. I love Alex’s presence, his work ethic, how he does things. He prepares as well as anyone when it comes to his golf. And you know that’s important. There is a bond with some of the Scandinavian players on our team, but he gets along well with everyone. He is a good friend of mine; we practice together at The Bear’s Club, where other players who will be on the team also practice. So he has great familiarity with many of the guys, and I think that’s really helpful.
Beyond the Ryder Cup, Alex Noren has won 11 titles on the DP World Tour and has been present in other team competitions. He debuted in the Royal Trophy in 2010, followed by appearances in the Seve Trophy (2011) and the World Cup of Golf (2011, 2016), representing Sweden. He played a key role in Europe’s victory in the EurAsia Cup 2018, setting the tone for an outstanding year in team golf.
Later that season, Noren earned his place in the Ryder Cup 2018 in Paris—a defining moment in his career. He contributed two points out of three, partnering with Sergio García for a resounding 5&4 win over Phil Mickelson and DeChambeau in Friday’s foursomes, before the pair fell 3&2 to Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson on Saturday. Noren then secured a great 1-up victory over DeChambeau. His most recent appearance in a team event came at the Hero Cup 2023, where he again played a valuable role in the victory of Continental Europe.
