A native of Sweden, Alexander Noren began playing golf at age 8. As an amateur, he had five wins, recorded a 74.29 stroke average and shot a career-best round of 61. He was one of two true freshmen to earn a starting position on the Oklahoma State University golf team. While there, he posted six top-10 finishes and received first team All-Big 12 recognition along with honorable mention All-America honors and earned a degree in business marketing. He competed on the Swedish National Golf Team for seven years before turning pro in 2005. After placing third on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit in 2006, Alex earned his tour card and made his European Tour debut in 2007. He earned his first PGA European Tour victory in September of 2009 at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, where he won by two shots. He closed with a 66 to finish the tournament 20-under-par. Alex uses an Odyssey putter. He won his second career European Tour event at the Saab Wales Open in June. The following month, Noren won the Nordea Masters by seven shots.
Dodd was born in Cardiff. He had a successful amateur career highlighted by victory in The Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1989, which qualified him to play in The Open Championship that year and the U.S. Masters the following year. He was named Welsh sports personality of the year in 1989. He turned professional in 1990.
Dodd spent the early years of his professional career on Europe's second tier Challenge Tour. In 1992 he won the Bank Austria Open on that tour, but his results were generally patchy. He first gained his place on the main European Tour in 1995, but found himself returning to qualifying school every year until 2001, when he finally broke into the top 100 on the Order of Merit to automatically retain his playing status. He then steadily improved, having new personal best seasons in 2003 and 2004, finishing 80th and 58th respectively on the money list.
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