Alex Noren claimed his second European Tour victory of the season and the second Omega European Masters title of his career after the Swede overcame Australia’s Scott Hend on the first play-off hole in Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
The 34 year old began the day one shot behind his playing partner Hend but was at one stage of the day two shots clear following a superb five under front nine. 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.
A wayward drive on the first extra hole meant Hend had it all to do, but a miraculous second shot from the trees left him just off the green before he chipped to six feet to apply the pressure.
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.
Alex Noren
“It sounds unbelievable (to be a second time Omega European Masters winner). I’m coming off a three-week vacation and trying to get the game in shape and it got into shape quite quickly so it is fantastic. There were a tough couple of guys hunting me today but I’m happy I won.
“It feels amazing to be among Seve Ballesteros and Thomas Bjørn to win two Omega European Masters titles. I’ve seen the boards showing who won multiple Omega European Masters title walking to the course so it is great.
“It was howling off the left and you need to hit a big hook. I got lucky pulling that off but the other guys didn’t. I played really well on six, seven, eight and nine. I bogeyed 10 and 17 because the greens here are so tricky.
“I’ve worked hard this season. I tried to play more golf and I feel steadier with my driver. My driver hasn’t been my good side but now it is steadier. It is great to have my family here, my baby and my parents here for the first time.
“I’ve never won coming from behind or won in a play-off on the European Tour so that makes it more amazing.
“We both (Scott Hend) played well, and Richard Bland too except for the last hole. It is easier that way when we push each other. It is so tricky around here and you can three putt from anywhere. It has been a fantastic year. I didn’t think it will be such a good year. I took some time after having a baby and trained hard after that.”
Scott Hend
“I think Alex played the 18th hole way better than I did and made an awesome birdie for a deserving win. It wasn’t a daunting tee shot on the last. It is just like any other tee shot. You just need to stand there and hit it. I was unable to hit the shot I wanted yesterday and today, twice.
“He (Alex) played fantastic golf today but I didn’t play quite well enough. That’s golf. You can’t complain when you get into position to win but somebody makes a great birdie on the play-off hole to win.”
Andrew Johnston
“It was good today. Again it was a bit frustrating on the front nine but I tried to stay patient and I finally managed to make a score.
“The conditions were perfect, there wasn’t much wind. It literally just picked up on the 18th hole when we were playing our second shot in so it was perfect conditions. The eagle was good, it was a tight pin on the front right and I hit a nice seven iron in into seven foot and I hit a good putt.
“It’s been a good week. I had a nice break and it’s nice to come in fresh. I really enjoyed this week and I just have to keep pushing on, working hard and trying to get the results.”
Alex Noren of Sweden poses with the trophy folowing his victory during the final round of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on September 4, 2016 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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About The European Tour
The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2016, the European Tour International Schedule features 47 tournaments in 27 countries, all part of the Race to Dubai, the year-long competition which crowns the European Tour Number One at the end of the season, a title claimed in 2015 by Rory McIlroy for the third time.
Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 25 Members celebrate a total of 51 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on Tour.
The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which features 28 tournaments in 22 countries in 2016, and the Senior Tour, which features 13 tournaments in nine countries in 2016. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup.
The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to over 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Emirates and Titleist as Official Partners.
