Noren lines up Ryder Cup debut
Alex Noren all but guaranteed a debut in the Ryder Cup by winning at the host venue yesterday. He set up a blue-and-gold return to Le Golf National in September with victory at the France Open.
Thomas Bjorn, the Europe captain, is a long-time admirer of the late-developing 35-year-old and will be thrilled to have him, particularly as his consistent play and unflappable nerve are obviously so suited to the brutal Versailles layout.
In the last three years, Noren has been a prolific winner. Having lifted three European Tour titles in his first 10 years as a pro, this was a seventh success since 2015 and was similar to his glory at last year’s BMW PGA Championship in the fact it came courtesy of a remarkable weekend. Noren only just made the cut on three over but, from there, shot a 65 and 67 to climb to seven under and prevail by a shot over England’s Chris Wood, Scotland’s Russell Knox and the American, Julian Suri, by a shot.
True, his four-under final round did not match the 62 he conjured at Wentworth 12 months ago, but it was still stunningly executed in the circumstances. He began the day seven behind and still needed two birdies on the feared final fourhole stretch to bypass the clubhouse lead of Knox, who had earlier posted a brilliant 65. Noren made a two on the 16th and a three on the 17th and then watched as both Wood and Suri dropped shots on the run-in, with the latter taking a double bogey.
For Wood this runners-up placing was a welcome turnaround in form – as it was for Knox, who, as well as a cheque for £400,000, also earned a berth in the Open at Carnoustie in two weeks’ time.