Scott Hend hit a 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the European Masters in the heart of the Swiss Alps at Crans-sur-Sierre.
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Noren had trailed Hend by a shot heading into the final round but a five-under-par 65 allowed him to finish level on 17 under with Hend, who had a 66.
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.
Australian Marcus Fraser, who led the Olympic golf tournament at the halfway stage before falling back into a tie for fifth, also shot 65 along with Open championship revelation Andrew Johnston.
England’s Andrew Johnston competes during the second round of the Omega European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Friday, Sept.2, 2016.
“It feels unbelievable”, said the 34-year-old Noren, who won the Scottish Open in July and will climb to a career-high world ranking inside the top-30.
Noren needed only 30 shots for the outward nine, then dropped his first stroke at the par-4 10th.
“I didn’t hit the very best of tee shots and I was down the right”.
“I think Alex played the 18th hole way better than I did and made an awesome birdie for a deserving win”.
Hend got up and down from the back of the green for a closing 66 and when Noren had to settle for a 65 after missing a long birdie attempt, the pair returned to the 18th for the first hole of sudden death. Hend’s chip finished five feet short of the cup but it didn’t matter as Noren rolled in his birdie putt at flawless speed to grab his sixth European Tour victory and his second for the year. Still, a first-round 72 on Thursday left the 1999 European Masters victor too far back to challenge. “I have no pressure and maybe that’s why I can play good”, Langasque told Sky Sports.
Westwood, 43, will be making his 10th consecutive appearance in the Ryder Cup later this month as Europe seek to lift the trophy for the seventh time in eight contests when they take on the United States at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
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“I’m looking forward to another week off for practice and then to Italy”, Willett said, after a round had begun with bogey-5s at the first two holes.
