Alex Noren wins European Masters for second time

Sweden’s Alex Noren beat Australia’s Scott Hend at the first play-off hole to win the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland on Sunday.

Noren, who clawed a share of the lead despite dropping two shots in the final round, birdied the first par-four extra hole to end Hend’s hopes.

A bogey at the 17th and a five under 65, however, meant he finished tied at the top with Hend on 17 under par after regulation play.

Noren, who won the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart in July, dropped his first shot of the day by three-putting the 10th from long range, only for Hend to bogey the next following a wayward tee shot.

Noren hit his approach to 30 feet and while Hend hit a good chip to give himself a chance at par the Swede ended proceedings by holing his birdie effort.

With his win, the Swede is now the only player after the late Seve Ballesteros of Spain and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark to win two Omega European Masters title.

England’s Andrew Johnston was three shots behind in third after a back nine of 30 in his 65, with Lee Westwood two strokes further back after a flawless closing 63.

That left the Masters champion in a nine-way tie for second a shot behind American Paul Peterson, England’s Daniel Brooks and France’s Gregory Havret and Mike Lorenzo-Vera.

The final member of the Ryder Cup threesome, Andy Sullivan, nearly pulled off the same feat after an opening 74, only to see his birdie chip on the 18th catch the edge of the hole and stay out. “I think Alex played the 18th hole way better than I did and made an awesome birdie for a deserving win”, said the Quenslander. Hend saved par to force the playoff as rain started to fall for the first time all week.

“Winning at Fanling last year was great so I am really looking forward to defending my title”, the 36-year-old was quoted as saying in an Asian Tour statement on Wednesday. Hend’s chip finished five feet short of the cup but it didn’t matter as Noren rolled in his birdie putt at ideal speed to grab his sixth European Tour victory and his second for the year.

“I just didn’t play quite well enough”.

Asked if he was playing the best golf of his career, Noren added: “Yeah, I feel that way”. I tried to play more golf and I feel steadier with my driver.