2021 Byron Nelson: Alex Noren Hoping to Achieve New Feat
By Tim Letcher
Alex Noren has is making his 104th career start on the PGA Tour this week at the 2021 Byron Nelson. And he’s in position to do something he’s never done before.
Noren first played on tour in 2008 and between then and 2016, he made a total of 23 starts on the U.S. tour, while primarily playing on the European Tour. Starting in 2017 Noren began to play more in the states. His increased workload in 2017 (11), 2018 (18), 2019 (18) and 2020 (17) still did not lead to a win on American soil.
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He came close to winning in 2018. In fact, it took a six-hole playoff at the Farmers Insurance Open for Jason Day to hold off Noren.
However, Noren finds himself firmly in the mix this week in Dallas. And he’s hoping that this could be the week that he gets that first American win.
Noren had an up-and-down day on Thursday at TPC Craig Ranch. He made nine birdies in his round but was victimized by a pair of bogeys. Still, it was a 7-under par round of 65, which allowed Noren to be in a tie for seventh place through 18 holes.
On Friday, Noren did even better.
Playing the back nine first, Noren started with a pair of pars, at the 10th and 11th holes. He got into red figures with a birdie at the par-5 12th hole.
After a par at the 13th hole, Noren birdied the 14th and 15th holes to get to 3-under on his round. He then parred the 16th and 17th holes before closing his first nine with a birdie at the par-5 18th hole. That left him with a 4-under par 32 for his opening nine.
On his second nine, Noren started with a par on the first hole. He then birdied the second and third holes, moving to 6-under on his round in the process.
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Noren would also birdie the fifth and eighth holes on his way to a 32. That left him with an 8-under par round of 64.
Through 36 holes, Noren finds himself in second place, two shots behind Sam Burns. Noren, who has won 10 times on the European Tour, hopes that he can overcome those two shots and win in the States for the first time this week.