Alex Noren ended a seven-year wait for his 11th DP World Tour title as he held off Nicolai Højgaard and a charging Kazuma Kobori to win the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo by one shot.
Noren, who also lifted the trophy in 2016, started the day one stroke off the lead but surged to the top early in his final round before being pushed all the way by Dane Højgaard.
New Zealander Kobori stormed into contention with an eagle and four birdies in his last six holes to set the clubhouse target at 15 under par.
But the Swede produced a big finish of his own, carding birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th to take a two-shot lead to the 18th tee.
He suffered a late scare when an errant tee shot cost him a bogey at the last, but he closed on 16 under to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2018 Open de France.
Kobori and Nicolai Højgaard shared second, while the Dane’s twin brother Rasmus Højgaard sealed the final automatic spot on the European Ryder Cup team with a tie for 13th on eight under.
Noren had started brightly, setting up a tap-in birdie at the 2nd with a pinpoint approach before making it back-to-back gains at the par-five 3rd.
He created further chances on the front nine – a long-range birdie try at the 5th narrowly missed – but after a bogey at the 9th he turned two strokes behind.
The 43-year-old responded with birdies from 15 feet at the 10th and 11th to rejoin the lead before a decisive run of three straight gains from the 15th stretched his advantage.
Although he needed four shots to reach the 18th green, Noren showed his composure by holing a seven-foot putt for bogey, enough to secure the title.
“It means a lot. It was a great week,” Noren said. “I don’t think I’ve played like this for a very long time, and to get it done at the end, with a little hiccup on the last, I’m extremely proud.
“I told my caddie earlier this year, ‘We’re going to get it, we’re going to get back to good golf after a bumpy spell,’ and we did. Super happy to do it here in Britain. I love British people and British courses.”
With Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald set to announce his six picks next week, Noren’s win may have given him another option, but he insisted his focus was only on his own form.
“It would be great,” he said of a possible Ryder Cup call-up. “But I’m just happy to get this win. First time in seven years, it feels great.”
Japan’s Keita Nakajima finished fourth on 13 under, one ahead of home favourite Andy Sullivan in fifth.
South Africa’s Darren Fichardt shared 13th on eight under after a final-round 69.
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
