Golf:Sweden's Alexander Noren cruised to his third European Tour title after claoming the Nordea Masters on home soil despite a closing round of 77 in Stockholm.
Noren took an 11-shot lead into the final day at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club after a course-record 63 yesterday. And the 29-year-old was never in serious danger of letting such a commanding advantage slip, with no-one able to mount a charge as strong winds sent scores soaring.
Noren at least finished in style with a birdie on the last for a 15-under-par total of 273, finishing seven shots clear of England’s Richard Finch.
Finch had set the clubhouse target on eight under par after a superb 69, the lowest round of the day which made him the only man to break par, despite
running up a triple-bogey six on the par-three 17th.
Sweden’s Niklas Lemke, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, finished third on five under, with Australia’s Scott Hend and Spain’s Pablo Martin a shot further back.
American Bubba Watson had been second overnight but closed with a 78 to drop back into a share of sixth place alongside compatriot Dustin Johnson, who finished with a 74.
Noren birdied the opening hole today to move to 21 under par, but dropped shots at the third, fourth, sixth and ninth to be out in 39.
However, four straight pars then steadied his nerves and meant he could afford to drop further shots at the 14th and 16th before safely negotiating the treacherous 17th — a par-three with an island green.
Noren, who also won the Wales Open at Celtic Manor earlier this season, said: “I am so relieved.
“The only thing I thought of all day was the 17th. I said it doesn’t matter how I play up to that, I just have to survive 17 and I did. I’ve never seen wind like this in Sweden. Every hole was super tough and even downwind it was hard to choose the clubs.”
Speaking about winning on home soil, he added: “It’s even more amazing at home, everyone cheering you on and you don’t really feel that somewhere else.
“It’s amazing, you see some friendly faces in the crowd and it’s unbelievable. I’m very happy.”
Ireland's Damien McGrane closed with a final round 76 to drop back to level par for the tournament.
