Swedish star Alex Noren overcame Australian Scott Hend in a play-off to win the Omega European Masters for a second time.
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But he did just that, bogeying just one hole during the second round and narrowly sneaking through the cut courtesy of four birdies in his last five holes to close on level par.
The pair then had to go back up the 18th and Hend hit his tee-shot towards the trees on the left but saw his ball bounce back to the fairway and only just cleared the water with his second, as Noren put his second from the fairway to 30 feet.
But, from 30 feet and to the delight of the Swiss crowds, Noren duly sank his birdie putt to clinch a sixth career European Tour victory, which moved him to eighth in the Race to Dubai and on course for the best campaign of his career.
Johnston closed on 14 under, two ahead of Lee Westwood as the Ryder Cup star gave European captain Darren Clarke plenty to cheer with a flawless seven-birdie 63, the joint-lowest round of the day along with Oliver Fisher.
Danny Willett’s hopes of defending his title all but evaporated after he again struggled with inconsistency, mixing five birdies with as many bogeys in an even-par round of 70.
England’s Andrew Johnston competes during the second round of the Omega European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Friday, Sept.2, 2016.
Hend’s bogey on the par-4 18th, the only blemish of his round, left him at 13 under. Hend saved par to force the playoff as rain started to fall for the first time all week. Alex Noren of Sweden was leading the field with 17-under overall when reports last came in. “I think Alex played the 18th hole way better than I did and made an awesome birdie for a deserving win”, said the Quenslander. I worked quite hard this season and tried to really play more golf when I’ve been off and not do so much practice on the driving range.
Lee Westwood of England, a pick by captain Darren Clarke to face the United States at Hazeltine, Minnesota, from September 30, shot a 4-under 66 to move to 2 under.
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“It was an early start and then I had a awful warm-up this morning, which wasn’t the best after I’ve had two weeks off trying to work on the game”, Willett told Sky Sports.
