Noren puts his name up in lights
DOUBLE ACT: England co-captains Robshaw and Ford lift the trophy after victory over the Barbarians ALEX NOREN might usually float under the radar but he is going to get noticed after his stunning finish to land the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The Swede came from seven shots behind on the last day to jump to the head of the leaderboard with a 10-under-par 62 – a course record – which landed him a cheque for £894,000 and a place in the world’s top 10.
Italy’s Francesco Molinari was second after two birdies in the last two holes put him within two shots of Noren, who already had his feet up in the clubhouse.
And there was a three-way tie for third with Nicolas Colsaerts from Belgium, Open champion Henrik Stenson and Japan’s Hideto Tanihara finishing on eight under par. The highestranked Englishman was Graeme Storm who finished in a tie for sixth alongside Ireland’s Shane Lowry.
So at the end of a week when British hopes were high of landing the European Tour’s flagship event, it was an unheralded 34-year-old from Stockholm who took the honours.
Quite why he is so unheralded is one of golf’s mysteries as he is one of the tour’s most prolific winners of recent times.
Noren quietly jumped over 100 places on the rankings last year – he won four times on the European Tour – and was described by one American magazine as the highest-ranked player whom followers of golf do not know. But European fans should know all about him when next year’s Ryder Cup match against the United States arrives in Paris.
Noren’s round, which included eight birdies and an eagle at the last, finished two hours before the overnight leaders came in but no one mounted a serious challenge.
Noren’s hopes of victory had looked over after a double bogey at the 18th on Saturday, and he said: “I came off the course angry on Saturday after chipping into the water at the 18th – but I holed so many putts and that gives you so much confidence and everything seems possible.” As the English challenge, which was led by Lee Westwood after three rounds, faded, Noren produced the best golf of the week and no one could live with him.
Westwood, who started the day three off the lead, had a double bogey six at the seventh hole and another dropped shot on the 13th put paid to his chances in his 24th attempt at this tournament.
Storm, who had opened with a 68 before two mediocre rounds, rallied with another 68, while Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick shared 12th place on five-under after shooting 66 and 67 respectively.
But Ian Poulter’s hopes of qualifying for next month’s US Open by getting into the world’s top 60 with a high finish were dashed by his putter. He did manage a two-under 70 to close but was languishing in a tie for 40th spot and his place in the season’s second Major is still on hold.