After missing multiple months this season with a 90 percent tear of his hamstring, Alex Noren made an end-of-season run to try and make the European Ryder Cup team as a captain’s pick. Noren carded a T7 finish at the 3M Open and a T3 at the Wyndham Championship before winning the British Masters. As the teams were announced, Noren did not make the cut to play, he was however chosen as a vice captain for team Europe.
VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Tyrrell Hatton of England and Alex Noren of Sweden react on the fourth green on day four of the BMW PGA Championship 2025 at Wentworth Golf Club on September 14, 2025 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)
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This week’s DP World Tour BMW PGA Championship, one of the tours flagship events, held at Wentworth Golf Club may have European captain Luke Donald second guessing himself.
With the entire European Ryder Cup team in the field other than Sepp Straka, Noren won his second BMW PGA Championship and 12th win on the DP World Tour when he defeated Adrian Saddier on the first playoff hole. Noren who hadn’t played on a Ryder Cup team since 2018 in France, did admit that he hadn’t earned a spot on this year’s team.
“I think we have a great team and I think it’s the right 12 guys that are playing,” Noren said on Sunday after winning at Wentworth. “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.”
Coming down the stretch Sunday, Noren made birdie on the par 5 17th hole, just to be matched by Saddier to remain tied. On the 18th hole, also a par 5, both players made par and were headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff. In the playoff, Noren and Saddier both looked like they may have hit their 2nd shot in the water, but both remained dry and in play. After Saddier hit his pitch shot over the green, Noren nestled a pitch up close to the hole and was able to tap in for the winning birdie.
An emotional Noren spoke after saying, “so many emotions right now. The playoff felt a lit bit easier than coming down the 72nd hole, a little bit better conditions. I thought I hit [my second shot] into the water … and got fortunate with a good break. The chip was sitting quite nicely, and I saw his ball didn’t catch as nice as a break, so it makes a difference.”
VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 14: Alex Noren of Sweden celebrates with the BMW PGA Championship trophy on the 18th green after winning the play off on day four of the BMW PGA Championship 2025 at Wentworth Golf Club on September 14, 2025 in Virginia Water, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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In the final event leading up to the Ryder Cup in two weeks at Bethpage Black, some European team players had good showings and seemed to be in top form heading to New York. Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick all finished in the top five at Wentworth. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy shot a final round 65, while Jon Rahm and Ludvig Aberg also had solid performances.
The lone European player in the field to not make the cut was Rasmus Hojgaard. The lone rookie on the European team will need to get his game in shape in order to play in multiple formats at the Ryder Cup as the European team looks very formidable as they try to win on U.S. soil for the first time since 2012.
Mike is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf and sports writer for Forbes with PGA Tour and LIV Golf media credentials. He can be found on social media platforms @short_sided_golf