West Ham United’s newly-announced Sporting Director Mark Noble will team up with Hammers fan and American golfer Billy Horschel at this weekend's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship!
The duo will play in the team championship, in which professionals are paired with amateur golfers, and are expected to tee off at 9.44am.
After the former Hammers skipper paired with Horschel in a pro-am round at the BMW PGA Championship, the duo are ready to attack St Andrews after they formed a close friendship on and off the course over the past years. A mutual love for West Ham United has now blossomed into a proper sporting bromance.
“We speak probably daily now,” Noble told the Sunday Times. “Whether it’s on the phone or messages and play some golf together, socialise together. We just clicked and have become very good friends.
Hammers united ⚒ @Noble16Mark 🤝 @BillyHo_Golf #BMWPGA | #RolexSeries | #ProAmDay pic.twitter.com/kMleqPMZG1
— BMW PGA Championship (@BMWPGA) September 7, 2022
“It’s so interesting for me to see someone who is an elite-level golfer and the way his mindset is with golf, the way mine was with football.
“To be invited to play at the Dunhill is incredible, but to play with your mate, your friend, is very special.”
Noble and Horschel will be one of 168 teams in action. Italian golfer and Hammers fan Francesco Molinari is also in the mix and is next off the tee after Noble and Horschel at 9.55am.
Both teams will target the top 20, who will compete again on the final day at the Old Course, which has become accustomed to West Ham United over the past three seasons.
St Andrews has hosted the Hammers first-team squad in each of the last three summers, with manager David Moyes, first-team coach Mark Warburton, and players Aaron Cresswell and Craig Dawson all keen golfers.
Moyes and his coaching staff have now made it an annual tradition to have a pre-season picture taken on the famous 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course.
And carrying his famous Claret and Blue golf bag, Horschel, who is ranked 15th in the world, is excited to back return to the iconic venue and to do so accompanied by Noble.
“[Last year was an] absolute blast, a great week,” the American golfer said. “Now I get to do it with Nobes, which is going to be fantastic.”
Everyone at West Ham United wishes Billy, Mark and Francesco all the very best for today.
