Noren fights back to haul in S Korea’s Wang
AN INDEFATIGABLE Alex Noren of Sweden came from behind to win his maiden Nedbank Golf Challenge, with a final-round nineunder-par 63 helping him to a six-stroke victory at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City yesterday.
He survived a late charge from overnight leader Jeunghun Wang of South Korea and looked on track to equal the 62-course record, but did not have quite the same golden touch over the back nine to sign for a 13-under total of 274.
The swinging Swede began the day six shots behind Wang, who capitulated with a double bogey on the eighth, allowing Noren to take a one-stroke lead at the ninth.
Noren came into the final round with the hope of finishing with a decent score, never mind erasing a six-stroke deficit and returning it with interest.
“I didn’t think I had a chance, honestly, all I was trying to do is get a good round in and get a good feel for next week and a good positive finish,” Noren said.
“The course is tricky and you need to hit the right shots at the right times, and be aggressive when you can and stay back when you have to.
“I watched this tournament on TV a lot growing up, and it was a tournament I wanted to get into, so I did.”
The victory will launch him into the world’s top 10 for the first time after winning the Scottish Open, European Masters and British Masters.
Birdie-birdie-birdie-parbirdie-par-birdie-birdie-pareagle-birdie over the first 11 holes summed up his extraordinary run to this fourth European Tour title of the season.
Wang shot a three-over 72 in the final round to drop down to second place for an eightunder-par 280.
The South Korean had gone from a third-round high, finishing on 11-under par 64, before shooting five bogeys and a double-bogey on his final round.
“A 64 yesterday (Saturday) is about a 59 today, it was incredibly tough with the wind and the greens so much firmer so you had to keep your patience,” Noren said.
“I was kind of happy seeing the rain coming down last night because I knew the course would be a bit softer today, and I took advantage of it.”
The victory launched Noren into third place on the Race to Dubai rankings behind fellow Swede Henrik Stenson in the lead, and England’s Danny Willett in second place.
Hopes of the first South African victory since 2007 were dashed with Branden Grace finishing as the country’s leading player in a five-way tie for third place on seven under par.
“I would have liked to be third alone, I was very disappointed with the threeputt on 18. But finishing tied third is my best finish here yet, and hopefully next year I can improve on that,” Grace said.