Rookie Alex Noren believes he can take confidence from having won already on the Ryder Cup course this summer.
The Swede lifted the French Open title at Le Golf National in July, his European team-mate Jon Rahm finished two shots behind, having come from seven shots back in the final round.
He hopes that victory will help as the event gets under way on Friday.
Just Alex Noren putting on a chipping clinic out here…#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/y1ePC00CRY — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2018
“It’s a totally different thing playing as a team and as an individual, but it’s nice to be at a course where I’ve done well, especially the last three years, and it gives me confidence,” said the 36-year-old, who also recorded top-10 finishes on this course in the two years prior to this summer’s victory.
“It’s different with the Ryder Cup but it’s nice to be here again.”
The huge crowds and increased pressure are the significant factors with the first tee grandstand alone holding almost 7,000 people with thousands more expected to line the area-style set-up around the first and second holes.
Enter Rory 🔊#TeamEurope pic.twitter.com/d437gITBMy — Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) September 27, 2018
“It’s unbelievable going down there. At the French Open it’s already a great atmosphere around that first tee and yesterday you got a little bit of feel for what it could be but it was not that many people in the actual grandstand.
“It’s hard to know how big it’s going to be but I will try to take away all the expectations from outside and the crowds and everything.
“It’s great that everybody here wants Europe to win but it’s easier to kind of go in the team and within yourself and just take it as a golf tournament and try to prepare that way.”
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