London, Sep 2 (AP) – Alex Noren has been named as the fifth and final vice captain for Team Europe in the upcoming Ryder Cup, as announced by captain Luke Donald on Tuesday. Noren was instrumental in Europe's 2018 victory at Le Golf National near Paris, where he contributed two points from three matches. This included a memorable 40-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch victory over Bryson DeChambeau in the final singles match on Sunday.
This year's Ryder Cup will take place at Bethpage Black in New York, from September 26 to 28. While Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjørn, and José María Olazábal have maintained their vice captain roles since Europe's previous win at Marco Simone outside Rome in 2023, Noren is the sole newcomer to the vice-captain ranks, with Nicolas Colsaerts being the only member not retained from the last event.
Noren expressed his surprise and gratitude upon hearing the news. “It was a big shock when I found out. I didn't expect it at all,” he said. “I want to bring a good attitude to the team room. Bring some knowledge. I've been in this game a long time.” As a Swede, Noren finds a natural kinship with the Scandinavian players on the team, including Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, Norway’s Viktor Hovland, and Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg.
Luke Donald praised Noren's character and commitment. “He will do everything that he can to help the team. He's a humble guy, it's never about Alex,” Donald noted. “He is a good friend of mine. We practice together at Bears Club in Jupiter, Florida, where other team members also practice. His familiarity with many of the players will be an asset.” (AP) AM AM AM
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