NOREN TAKES FRENCH TITLE IN FINE STYLE
ALEX NOREN was the last man standing in Paris yesterday as he retrieved a sevenshot deficit to clinch the HNA Open de France, his second Rolex Series success.
After a war of attrition at Le Golf National, the Swede’s closing 67 for seven-under-par secured a 10th European Tour title, a cheque for €1million and 1.5 million Ryder Cup points.
American Julian Suri’s challenge had dissolved when he found water with his second at the 18th and emerged with a double-bogey six.
Noren said: ‘On a course like this, anything can happen and I was just trying to get to six, seven, eight under. I thought that could get you into a play-off.
‘The feeling of the birdie on 17, I really wanted that. You always want that and finally, I made one of those when it really matters.’
The three exemptions to The Open at Carnoustie went to Russell Knox (65) and Suri (68) on six under, and overnight leader Marcus Kinhult (76) on five under.
Shane Lowry dug deep to bounce back from a wretched start to sign off with a 70 for two under par. That left him tied for 16th place, which was worth €78,548.
After coughing up three shots to par in his first two holes Lowry fired five birdies between the 3rd and the 13th before a slip at the 18th which found out so many — Suri and Sergio Garcia were contending when they each found water to finish with costly sixes.
Paul Dunne was another to leak a shot on the 18th as he signed for a second 71 of the weekend to tie 21st on one under par, worth €66,659.
If Graeme McDowell had managed to complete the demanding 18th in par over the four days, he’d have been seven strokes better.
Yet again, the challenging hole left its mark on him as he too signed off with a six for a closing 72, three over par. (€39,335). It was McDowell’s second double bogey in his closing three holes.
On the PGA Tour, Seamus Power closed with a doublebogey six for a 72 at the Quicken Loans National in Maryland. On four over, Power was outside the top 50.
The European Tour heads to Ballyliffin this week for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, where the leading three players, who are not already exempt and who finish in the top 10, will qualify for The Open.
Gavin Moynihan, who tied 14th at Portstewart last year after a closing 64, has secured a sponsor’s invite as have Paul McGinley, Cormac Sharvin and Ruaidhri McGee.
Paul Lawrie, winner of The Open in 1999, has withdrawn due to injury. Ryan Moore, the US Ryder Cup player, takes his place.