Alex Noren Turns Heads With Message to Wife, Family at PGA Championship
In just his second tournament after seven months away from competing, Alex Noren enters the final round of the 2025 PGA Championship just three strokes behind Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 ranked golfer.
Expectations weren't high for Noren at Quail Hollow after tying for 51st at the Truist Championship earlier this month. But the Swedish golfer, who's never won a major championship, has a chance to win the Wanamaker Trophy and $3.42 million prize money.
Advertisement
Three months into the offseason, Noren suffered a 90% tear in his right tendon on the sit bone while preparing for The Sentry in Maui. While the 42-year-old avoided surgery, he faced an extensive recovery period.
During the break, he spent a lot of time with his wife, Jennifer Kovacs, and their two children, Iris and Roy.
Alex Noren tees off at the 2025 PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow.Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Noren started coaching his daughter's softball team near their home in Jupiter, Florida. 'It was awesome, the best thing I've ever done,' he said. "You're so stuck in your own golf world all of the time. It's good to step out of it.'
The time away also change his perspective on golf. 'It's good to take a break sometimes,' Noren told reporters on Saturday. "I missed it, but I also liked what I had at the time, which helps me maybe realize a little bit that I don't think it's the end of the world if you play bad.'
Advertisement
The PGA and European Tour golfer's message immediate turned some heads. Golf.com's Alex Alan Bastable wrote, "Those are stunning words to hear coming from Noren."
"He's not exactly one to curl up on the couch with an Afghan blanket and a People magazine," Bastable continued. "In fact, [he] has a reputation for being one of the hardest workers in professional golf, or at least that's how Rory McIlory once describe Noren."
NBC Sports' Rex Hoggard shared a similar reaction, describing Noren as "one of the PGA Tour's most intense workers."
Noren added, 'I got some good perspective, like spending that much time kind of in the middle of a career, like hopefully I'll play a lot longer. But to kind of have that time to see the family a lot, it's been nice.'
Related: Rory McIlory Sends Message to Wife, Family Before PGA Championship
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
High School Track Champion Disqualified for Spraying Her Shoes with Fire Extinguisher in Celebration
NEED TO KNOW Clara Adams won the 400-meter final at the California state championships but was disqualified and stripped of her medal due to her celebration The athlete sprayed her shoes with a fire extinguisher The celebratory move was an homage to a former Olympian who once did the same thing after a win A California high school athlete was disqualified and stripped of her gold medal after she celebrated on the track with a fire extinguisher. Clara Adams, a sophomore sprinter from North Salinas High School, lost her state championship title in the 400-meter final on Saturday, May 31 after she sprayed her shoes with the device, according to KSBW-TV. Advertisement "I worked so hard for that title," Adams, 16, told the station of the race, in which she finished first in 53.24 seconds. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) deemed her celebration 'unsportsmanlike' and she received a DQ — all of which does not sit well with Adams, her father and the man to whom she was paying homage, retired Olympic racing legend Maurice Greene. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Greene, 50, famously extinguished his own 'smoking hot' spikes on the track after he won the 100-meter dash in 2004. Advertisement "When I heard it happened, and then people just started calling me, 'This girl who just ran the 400 did your celebration,' I was like huh? What?" Greene told the station. "If it was away from everyone and not interfering with anyone, I would say reinstate her." Matthew Stockman/Getty Maurice Greene in 2004. Maurice Greene in 2004. The athlete's father, who also serves as her coach, David Adams, is similarly pushing back on the extent of Clara's punishment. "When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone," he told KSBW. "That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them. The crowd went crazy, they loved it, the CIF booth went crazy, they loved it. But those few guys in those jackets took offense to it, didn't like it, and made a decision based off emotions." Advertisement In footage from the race, David Adams is seen handing his daughter the extinguisher. The news station reported that he then climbed over the railing — which is also against the rules — to address CIF officials. 'I saw an official grab my daughter by the arm, they were yelling in her face,' Adams said. 'I'm a father now, I'm not coach any more.' According to the station, in the last 20 years of state championships, no other athletes have been disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Read the original article on People
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
NASCAR to have podium celebrations for top three finishers in Cup, Xfinity races in Mexico
For the first time after a Cup points race, NASCAR will honor the top three finishers with a podium celebration next weekend in Mexico. While podium celebrations are common in other forms of racing, including Formula One and IndyCar, NASCAR celebrates only the winner in its U.S.-based series. The only time NASCAR has had a podium celebration in Cup was for the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum exhibition races from 2022-24. That was done in a nod to the historic venue having hosted the Olympics. The top three drivers received medals — gold for the winner, silver for second place and bronze for third place. NASCAR will have podium celebrations for the top three finishers for its Xfinity Series and Cup Series races June 14-15 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. That weekend will represent the first international Cup points race since 1958. 'For this historic weekend, it felt appropriate to recognize the heritage of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and give a nod to the traditional international motorsports celebrations,' NASCAR stated to NBC Sports. 'There are currently no plans for podium-style celebrations following the Mexico City event.' The NASCAR Mexico Series also will have podium finishes after its races June 13-14 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as it does for all its races. Dustin Long, While podium finishes are not an official statistic for NASCAR, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson each have had the most top-three finishes this season. Both have six in the first 14 Cup points races of the year. Bell has three wins, two runner-ups and a third-place finish. Larson has three wins, one runner-up and two third-place results. Denny Hamlin and William Byron are next with five podium results each. Hamlin has two wins, two runner-ups and a third-place finish. Byron has one win, three runner-ups and a third-place result. Ryan Blaney, who won last weekend's race at Nashville Superspeedway. completes the top five. He has three podiums, scoring one win, no runner-up results and two third-place finishes.
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte and Kayla Reid announce their divorce
After seven years of marriage and three kids, Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte and real estate agent Kayla Reid have announced their divorce. In separate statements shared on Wednesday, June 4, the former couple shared how they are feeling after making the difficult decision. Reid was the first to share the news, writing, 'earlier this year, I made the hard decision to end my marriage after deep prayer and reflection. I hold marriage in the highest regard, so this has been one of the most painful, revealing, and challenging seasons of my life.' Reid continued, saying she's 'been hesitant to share until I could do so from a place of healing - not from fresh, open wounds. Sometimes we face trials we didn't choose or see coming. And in those moments, we're forced to make the hardest decisions to protect our peace, our children, and our future.' 'I've come to understand that staying isn't always the most loving decision someone can make. For me, leaving was an act of love - for those around me and for myself,' she continued. 'Living with transparency and authenticity has been how I have grown into the person I am today, and I'll continue to do so - while also protecting the parts of this journey that are private and unfolding in uncharted territory.' The mom of three added that she believes 'God is still at work - even in the breaking, even in the unknown. I choose to believe that new growth can emerge from broken ground.' 'Moving forward, I'm choosing to give myself grace. I'm choosing resilience. And I'm choosing to believe that what lies ahead will bring strength and peace. Your prayers and continued support mean the world to me right now.' Roughly an hour later, Lochte took to his Instagram page to share his own words. 'I want to take a moment to acknowledge what Kayla shared,' the swimmer began. 'This past year has brought major changes for both of us as we've come to the difficult decision to end our marriage. I'm deeply grateful for the life we've built together and especially for the love we share for our three children.' Together, Lochte and Reid share 8-year-old Caiden, 5-year-old Liv and 1-year-old Georgia. 'Although this decision hasn't been easy,' Lochte continued, 'I believe it's the right step toward peace and well-being for us both. I remain committed to healing, growth, and co-parenting with care and respect as we move forward separately. Thank you to our family and friends for your continued support - it truly means a lot as we begin this new chapter.' According to People, Lochte and Reid met in 2016. He proposed to her after competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Olympic swimmer has 12 Olympic medals, six of which are gold.
