Alex Noren is hopeful his experience of team competition will serve Continental Europe well as the DP World Tour kicks off 2023 with the inaugural Hero Cup.
The Swede holed the final putt in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Le Golf National in 2018, having played in a European side that won the EurAsia Cup at the outset of the year.
Noren, a ten-time winner on the DP World Tour, is a firm advocate of match play and says playing not just for himself but also his teammates will drive him on against Great Britain and Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
“It's an unusual start (to the season) for us,” he said. “I did this back in 2018, the EurAsia Cup, and it was great.
“We practice over the break, of course, but we need to get into competition, and this is right into competition.
“You want to do well, more than maybe even a normal week.”
Noren, like several of those in action on both teams this week, has not played since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last year, when he finished runner-up behind Jon Rahm.
For that reason, the World Number 39 is eager to see how quickly he gets back up to speed and performs under pressure, with Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald overseeing this week’s event.
“I'm looking forward to understanding where I am,” he said.
“What's important is probably how you act and maybe not every shot has to be perfect for them to see who you are, and then you've got to play well this season to get into the Ryder Cup, and you've got to play well at the Ryder Cup."
The Hero Cup was created to help provide players with experience in match play and Noren’s Continental Europe teammate Sepp Straka is excited to test his game in the format.
Straka has come to prominence over the last 12 months, winning his maiden PGA TOUR title at the Honda Classic and rising into the world’s top 30 after starting last year outside the top 200.
“I think everybody could use some experience in this type of format, especially the team atmosphere,” he said.
“We don't get a whole lot of that. Any time you can get some experience doing that is awesome.”
Former Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjørn, along with current skipper Donald, spoke to both teams on Tuesday night and Straka says that was a rewarding experience.
“It's great,” he said. “They are legends that everybody grew up kind of idolising and to be able to be in the same room and get advice from them and hear stories from them in their time is pretty special.”
Straka is making his first visit to the Middle East and will remain in Abu Dhabi next week as all 20 players from both teams compete in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links.
Reflecting on the team dynamic and getting acquainted with different players, he added: “They have been great.
“I have got to meet some new people I didn't know before so it's been awesome. The team room is set up great, and we've had a great time.”
