Things don’t always go your way in golf, especially with something as big as the Ryder Cup. For Alex Noren, a late-season surge still wasn’t enough to earn a spot on the European team. Missing out stung, but instead of dwelling on it, Noren embraced a different kind of Ryder Cup experience. One that offered a look inside the team’s inner circle.

In a pre-match press conference at the Bank of Utah Championship, the interviewer asked whether not being selected for the team left some unfinished business at Bethpage. Noren revealed that he wasn’t necessarily disappointed with the decision. Being a part of the meetings and executive decisions for the team, he understood the significance of Luke Donald’s team selection.

“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,” Noren shared with the media. “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.” Although the late surge in his game placed him close to contention, the comeback wasn’t in time.

This was the result of a brutal hamstring injury that forced the pro golfer to sit outside the greens. An MRI scan revealed a 90% tear in the tendon, with only 10% intact, helping avoid surgery. However, inevitably, Noren competed in fewer events.

Despite the setbacks, the European golfer made a fierce comeback with a 16-under win at the Belfred British Masters. He posted another victory at the BMW PGA Championship, just days before the Bethpage showdown.  However, even Noren himself admitted that the comeback was far too late for contention.

“I’ve had a great result now the last month but it came a little bit too late. I think the guys on the team is going to be fantastic,” Noren commented. “I showed good form late, but it was the wrong time, and I didn’t really show the form I needed to show when I started playing, and too many kind of bad tournaments in the middle of the season. Then way better the last six starts.”

While the experience marked a bittersweet chapter for the Swedish golfer, the captaincy responsibilities added thrill and excitement for him. He shared that he enjoyed the coaching side of golf a lot more, owing to his decades of experience. In fact, the Swedish golfer acts as the mentor and coach for his 16-year-old nephew, who “tries to become a pro.”

Commenting on the experience of acting as the team’s vice-captain, Noren quipped, “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.”

As a matter of fact, Alex Noren not only enjoyed the vice-captain experience but also took full responsibility and accountability for his position.

Alex Noren as the VC for Team Europe

Being the final addition to the team, Noren’s task set was a bit different from the other captains and vice-captains. Alex Noren revealed that he discovered his role in the leadership team a little less than two months before the Ryder Cup. Naturally, he wasn’t going to coach or captain as much as the others. Calling Luke Donald, Noren posed a simple question: “What do you want out of me?” The European Captain replied, “You’re going to be an extra set of eyes over a few players and be of any service they need.”

With the role set, Noren set out to provide his best to the team. Although Noren has competed only once in the Ryder Cup, he drew from his personal experiences, guiding the team members. He recognized the stress and pressure of contending at such high levels with their country’s pride at stake. Helping the golfers navigate that stress, Noren often chimed in with subtle advice and encouragement.

“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 know, you just got to stay with it. Stay with it. Just small comments like that can help from maybe another player as well,” the Swedish vice-captain shared.

The Swede’s vice-captaincy attracted the attention of Captain Luke Donald himself. He expressed strong approval for Alex Noren being a part of the leadership team. “I love Alex’s demeanor, his work ethic, how he goes about things. He prepares as well as anyone when it comes to his golf. And you know that is important,” Donald highlighted.

Another crucial attribute that made Noren the ideal addition to the board of vice-captains is his team chemistry and camaraderie. Donald especially pointed out his connection with the Scandinavian players. These qualities convinced Noren’s capabilities to lead a team even under high pressure. Despite his personal struggles this year, the Swede accepted and fulfilled his role in the classiest way possible.