Alex Noren was forced to accept a vice-captain role at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, despite his form heading into the tournament.
Noren won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth just before the Ryder Cup, with the majority of the European team having taken on the tournament.
He beat Adrien Saddier in a playoff, with Noren having also emerged victorious at the British Masters in August.
Noren’s Ryder Cup playing chances were discussed after his success heading into the event, but he ultimately served as vice captain to Luke Donald.
A previous Ryder Cup success was also on his CV before the latest edition of the team event, with Noren helping Europe lift the trophy in Paris in 2018.
Alex Noren gives his opinion on Ryder Cup snub at Bethpage Black
Albeit in a different role, he helped his side do the same at Bethpage Black last month, but the debate about his potential to have played has now re-emerged.
Speaking to the press ahead of this week’s Bank of Utah Championship, Noren was asked if he was disappointed to miss out, or somewhat happy given the hostile atmosphere the European Ryder Cup players faced in New York.
The Swede replied: “Yeah, I think since I knew I was going to be a vice captain right after Wyndham I was in on some of the meetings, you know, trying to choose players.
“It’s not my decision in the end, but Luke just wanted our input, and the input was pretty clear that I hadn’t performed well enough by the deadline sort of.
“Then I played really well right around when they were going to pick and then just after. So I wasn’t disappointed.
“I’ve been in the game for long enough to understand that you pick players based on the facts that you have at hand. I think he picked the right team, and I was maybe third in line after.
“But it was cool because I also like… you know, the older I get the more I like coaching or coaching my kids or helping out some young players. I have a nephew that’s 16 that tries to become a pro.
“So it was interesting to be on the sort of coaching side of things even though my role wasn’t to coach the players, but maybe just an overall behind-the-scenes trying to get the team going.”
Alex Noren responds when asked if he wanted to hit some shots at the Ryder Cup
Noren undoubtedly played a key role in the success, working hard alongside Donald to help pull off a major shock.
Also in the close-knit team were his fellow vice captains Thomas Bjorn, Jose Maria Olazabal, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari.
And it was a role that satisfied Noren, who was also asked at Black Desert Resort in Utah whether he had a strong desire to hit a few shots.
The 43-year-old Swede responded: “No. As a player I can really understand what the players are going through.
“If they’re playing well, you know, just lipping out a bunch of putts, you’ve just got to stay with it. Stay with it. Just small comments like that can help from maybe another player as well.”
Noren now has the chance to continue his successful season this week at the Bank of Utah Championship on the PGA Tour.
He is the highest-ranked player in the entire field, which also includes Jason Day, Billy Horschel and Maverick McNealy.
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