Noren highest ranked player in CBQM field

World No. 10 Alex Noren starts this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters as the field’s highest-ranked player, but the quiet Swede says his approach to the game has changed little since first competing in Doha on an invitation in 2007.
Noren, 34, won four European Tour titles in the second half of last year to soar up to World No. 9 and this week will play the first two rounds at Doha Golf Club in a high-profile group with four-time major winner Ernie Els and Ryder Cup rookie sensation Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Noren, however, doesn’t appear affected at all by his rapid rise into golf’s top ranks and hasn’t let his new top-10 status change his outlook.
“I really enjoy this tournament and I feel being the highest-ranked player is a positive. It gives me a lot of satisfaction, especially because I came here in 2007 on a wildcard. I got an invite and shot millions (77-74), so it feels better coming here this time,” joked Noren, who won the first of his eight European Tour titles in 2009.
“However, my expectations are not dramatically different from the last few years. I’m trying to just work on a daily basis with my caddie and my coach and improve, and not try to build up expectations.
“I just want to be realistic about my game, instead of thinking I’m 10th in the world. One of my strengths last year was that I don’t put too much pressure on myself,” he added.
Noren finished third in the 2016 Race to Dubai Rankings after a sensational run of results starting with last July’s Scottish Open victory, but says the improvement in his results was due more to a greater understanding of his game than any drastic changes.
“I don’t think I’m such a different player. The skill level has not increased dramatically, but I’m more aware of my weaknesses and strengths, and I can strategically work my way around them,” Noren said.
“I just know my game better, so I’m not going for low-percentage shots. I don’t really hit bad shots as often as I did before and overall the bad shots are a lot better than before, so that’s another key. It’s more relaxing to play when you don’t have those really errant shots.”
Noren’s best finishes at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters were fourth in 2013 and ninth in 2015, and he believes his increasingly low-risk approach suits the Doha Golf Club layout and its conditions.
“Since it’s so windy, it’s important to hit the greens. If you hit even a nine-iron to 30 feet, it’s not that bad. When it’s really tough conditions, it’s even more important to be nice to yourself and don’t put too much pressure on going for every pin,” he said.
“So maybe, that’s why I have been successful in the past to strategically work my way around this course. You have a lot of birdie opportunities and try to avoid making bogeys. In windy conditions, I think that’s even more important,” the Swede added.
Tommy Fleetwood leads the Race to Dubai Rankings after winning in Abu Dhabi last week and the Englishman will play the first two rounds with compatriot Graeme Storm, victorious in South Africa two weeks ago, and German star Martin Kaymer, a two-time major champion and 11-time European Tour winner.
Fleetwood, 26, tied seventh in Doha last year and could build on that after six top-10 finishes in his last 11 European Tour events, including a tie for third at last month’s Hong Kong Open.
“Winning in Abu Dhabi was a great way to start the year, very cool,” Fleetwood said. “I played well here last year. I actually feel like this course suits me more than last week. This one kind of fits my eye a little bit more. My game shouldn’t have gone off too much, so we’ll just see how we go and hopefully we’ll carry on.”