Golf star Alex Norén was in second place before the final round of this week's competition on the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour), one stroke behind Matt Fitzpatrick who kept him company in the lead ball.
Fitzpatrick did not have a particularly good day on the golf course.
But Norén did.
The 43-year-old was mainly challenged by New Zealander Kazuma Kobori and Dane Nicolai Højgaard, but Norén was long ice-cold when it tightened up on the final holes. Three straight birdies on holes 15, 16, and 17 meant that Norén stepped up to The Belfry's 18th tee with a two-stroke lead.
Alongside Stenson
Norén trembled then and finally stood in front of a tough bogey putt of around two meters for the win. It rolled in – and the Swede could breathe a sigh of relief.
Norén won with –16 total, one stroke ahead of Kobori and Højgaard.
It means a lot. It was a fantastic weekend, I don't think I've played like this in a long time, says the Stockholmer in the victory interview in Viaplay's broadcast.
Norén has in recent years mostly played on the PGA Tour. This year was initially ruined by an injury, but before Norén went over to Europe, he recently showed good form with a seventh place and a third place in his last two competitions on the PGA Tour.
Alex Norén took his tenth and most recent win on the European Tour in the French Open 2018. Now he stands at eleven titles – and shares with Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson the record for Swedish wins on the tour.
The win also means that Norén takes a big step on the world ranking and has good chances of getting to play all the majors next year.
Højgaard to Ryder Cup
Further down the results list, Rasmus Højgaard – Nicolai's twin brother – shared 13th place, which means he secured the sixth and final direct spot to Europe's Ryder Cup team in New York in September.
Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Tyrrell Hatton take the other direct spots.
Luke Donald will present his six captain's choices on September 1 and is expected to then select Ludvig Åberg for the team.
For Norén, it will probably require another win in Switzerland next week to get into that discussion.
Norén believes the chances are small:
It would be fantastic, but I'm just happy to get this win – the first in seven years. It feels fantastic.
