NOREN IS HOPEFUL OF ADDING TO SENSATIONAL SWEDISH SUMMER

ALEX NOREN is threatening to add further lustre to a sensational summer for Swedish golf. The 34-year-old from Stockholm, who won the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart last month, edged into the last eight of the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match Play yesterday after dispatching Italian Renato Paratore and Spaniard Nacho Elvira in the second and third rounds, respectively. And just a few weeks after compatriot Henrik Stenson won The Open at Royal Troon, he is determined to complete a notable hat-trick for his country at Archerfield Links this weekend. Chris Wood and Matt Fitzpatrick crashed out on a day of shock results that left the Ryder Cup hopefuls still uncertain of automatic places in Darren Clarke’s team. Although Noren has no chance of making Hazeltine next month, he definitely has his eye on a fifth European Tour title. ‘Winning the Scottish Open has given me the belief I needed that I can win under pressure and that’s not something anyone can teach you,’ he said. ‘Henrik winning The Open was great for the whole country, especially the way he did it, which was quite amazing. ‘Match play is tough. I’ve played three good matches and I just need a lot of rest now because I can feel it in my head, it’s been a long day.’ Noren will face another Swede in the last eight after Johan Carlsson took the scalps of Englishmen Robert Rock and Chris Paisley. Tournament host Lawrie was shown the second-round exit by Richard Green, who birdied the 18th to force an extra hole to defeat the former Open champion in sudden death. But the Australian’s joy was short-lived when Englishman Anthony Wall, who had beaten Richard Bland earlier, gave Green a taste of his own medicine by winning their match at the first extra hole. Wall faces Haydn Porteous in the quarter-finals after the South African defeated David Horsey and home favourite Marc Warren. The other two quarterfinals will be contested between Max Kieffer, who defeated Miko Ilonen and Daniel Brooks, and Oli Fisher, winner over Simon Khan and Richie Ramsay, while James Morrison defeated Graeme Storm and Michael Hoey to set up a last-eight battle with Alejandro Canizares after the Spaniard took down compatriot Eduardo de la Riva before dispatching Ryder Cup hopeful Fitzpatick. No 1 seed Wood also made an early exit, going down 2&1 to Brooks in round two. Quarter-finals: M Kieffer (Ger) v O Fisher (Eng); A Wall (Eng) v H Porteous (RSA); A Noren (Swe) v J Carlsson (Swe); A Canizares (Spa) v J Morrison (Eng).