Alex Norén has been in good form lately and after the win in the British Masters the week before last, he emerged as a late outsider to get a place in Luke Donald's team.
There will be no play in the Ryder Cup for Norén – it became clear when Donald presented his captain's choices on Monday – but the Swede will still have an important role in golf's major prestige match between the USA and Europe. The 43-year-old Norén has been selected as vice-captain, a role that has also been held by Thomas Björn, José Maria Olazábal and the brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari.
Norén, who played in the Ryder Cup in Paris in 2018, was at least surprised when the offer came.
"It was a big shock when I found out. I did not expect it at all", he says in a press release.
Luke Donald on the choice of Alex Norén:
"He is a humble guy, it's never about Alex. It's always about the team and I think he has fantastic qualities that will be important in his role as vice-captain).
This year's Ryder Cup will be decided at Bethpage Black outside New York, 26–28 September, with Ludvig Åberg as the only Swedish player in the European team.
"This edition of the Ryder Cup will be one of the toughest to win, considering where it is played. It will be a very tough crowd", says Norén.
