Sensational fifth title in a year at Wentworth

It’s fast-becoming the Swede’s trademark.  Once again Alex Noren came from out of the shadows on the final day to snatch yet another victory on the European Tour.  This time Noren was playing in England in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth (25-28 May) where he equalled the course record with his closing 62.  Not only that, he came from seven shots behind to take the prestigious title.

 

And what a delicious Sunday of golf it was on the West Course at Wentworth.  The sun was shining and the crowds were out in force lazing on the luscious green slopes in Surrey amid the rhododendrons in their polos and Bermuda shorts.  In all, 105,000 of them over the four days of the tournament.  All enjoying not only the quality of golf but the impeccable work done by the design teams headed by Ernie Els and, of course, the greenkeepers in the recent re-styling of the course.  The original architect, the late Henry Colt, would be have been proud.

 

Swedish dominance

 

A Swede had looked destined to win this first event of the new richly-rewarded Rolex series from day one.  It was 30-year old Johan Carlsson who set the pace completing the first round in 66 strokes.  Scandinavians just seem to know how to conquer Wentworth.  Just two strokes behind Carlsson were Open Champion Henrik Stenson and 35-year old Alex Noren.

 

Stenson showed his class throughout the tournament but it was Noren who stunned the fans and burnt-up the West Course on Sunday.   Whilst many doubted whether Carlsson would still be in the running on Sunday, few could have foreseen that Noren, who was seven shots adrift when teeing-off in the final round, would make such an impressive charge and secure his ninth European Tour victory.

 

  

In the chasing pack, Andrew Dodt, Lee Westwood and Francesco Molinari (l-r).

 

Blowy conditions on Saturday had taken its toll on many of the Tour’s leading lights.  In his typical outspoken fashion, BBC television commentator, Peter Alliss summed-up moving day by saying: “They’re all playing like eccentric millionaires!”

 

Aussie takes Wentworth by surprise on day three

 

Well, not everyone, actually.  Step forward, Andrew Dodt.  The Aussie ranked 251 in the world became the surprise overnight leader.  He teed-off on Sunday afternoon in the final pairing with a one-stroke lead over South Africa’s Branden Grace following his 4-under par 68 third round.  Five shots separated the top-15 players.  In the immediate chasing pack: Francesco Molinari (IT), Lee Westwood (ENG), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Shane Lowry (IR) and Hideto Tanihara.  After opening with a 76, the player from Japan had soared-up the leaderboard with impressive rounds of 69 and 67 to get himself into a share of 5th place heading into the final round.

 

Colsaerts eagle gets him in the mix

 

After two holes on Sunday, the roles were reversed.  Grace had become the new leader.  Dodt was one behind now sharing second spot with a firing-on-all-cylinders Stenson.  The Open Champion had just made three birdies in a row.  Dodt replied with a chip-in at the third.  And then the show really began.  Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts eagled the 12th.  Noren and Lowry started making birdies galore.  The Irishman’s fourth birdie on the trot got him into a three-way tie for the lead with Dodt and Grace on 9-under par.  Moments later, Noren made another birdie to join them.  And so the thrilling Sunday at Wentworth went on.

 

When Noren holed a beautiful putt on the par-5 18th for eagle, there was probably more elation that he had shot a bogey-free round of 62 (10-under par) to equal the course record at that moment than really serious thoughts of his 11-under par tally actually winning the tournament.  But, golf is a fickle game.

 

And so, after shooting 8 birdies and an eagle on Sunday, Alex Noren was leader in the clubhouse.  With rain forecast for later in the afternoon, that was a good place to be.  Little did he know then that his poor finish of yesterday, which had left him angry all evening, would soon pale into insignificance.

 

 

Alex Noren plays the waiting game before getting his hands on the trophy.

 

Whether it was the rain changing the pace of the perfectly smooth 3 mm long greens, or the pain of seeing Noren home and dry at 11-under, the putters out on the course distinctly cooled-off.  Stenson, who was on the 12th when the rain came, saw his charge grind to a halt.  He finished at 8-under for the championship to end in a three-way tie for third spot with Nicolas Colsaerts, who carded a brilliant 65 on Sunday, and Hideto Tanihara.

 

Day two co-leader, Francesco Molinari closed with a solid 68 to secure second spot on his own on 9-under par, two shots behind winner, Noren.

 

Deja-vu for Noren

 

Although the 35-year old player from Stockholm had had a brilliant purple patch last season, winning the Scottish Open, European Masters, British Masters and the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa where he came from 6 behind shooting a 63 in the final round for victory, 2017 had been a somewhat mediocre year for him.  Until he found the solution in the PGA Championship at Wentworth:

 

 

“I’d worked too hard on my weaknesses this year”

Alex Noren confides in the BBC

 

 

Now there’s a golden tip for us all!  And so, Alex Noren takes home with him to Sweden not only the BMW PGA Championship title and a handsome 900,000 pounds in prizemoney, but also a new-found confidence in himself.  Perhaps his tenth European title is just around the corner …

 

Watch out golf world – and well done, Alex!

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

VIEW THE FULL LEADERBOARD HERE – European Tour  

 

 

MAIN PICTURE:  Alex Noren celebrating his ninth European Tour title at Wentworth.