Weekend winners: Noren doubles up in Switzerland
European Tour: European Masters – Alex Noren
A second win of the season following his Scottish Open triumph but this time it went to extra holes as Noren outlasted Aussie Scott Hend.
The 2009 champion did the bulk of his good work on the front nine, reaching the turn in 30, but a three-putt bogey at the 17th meant he would sign for a 65, the same mark as Hend (66). The Aussie got a big slice of luck at the 72nd hole when his approach from under the trees skipped the water.
But at the first extra hole Hend again found the trees, only to see it bounce out, but Noren calmly rolled in a 25-footer to see him off. It was his sixth victory on Tour.
Andrew Johnston also posted a 65 to secure his second best result of the season while there was not so good news for some of the Ryder Cup side; Lee Westwood (4th) shot a best-of-the-day 63, Matt Fitzpatrick (T7) had a 64 (he opened with a 75 and still finished -10) while defending champion Danny Willett (T12) also fired a 64.
Congratulations Alex Noren – the #OEM2016 Champion! ? https://t.co/lJklv6AM3j
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 4, 2016
What Noren said: “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. 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.
“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. I’ve never won coming from behind or won in a play-off on the European Tour so that makes it more amazing.”
European Senior Tour: Travis Perkins Masters – André Bossert
A best-of-the day 69 from the Swiss 52-year-old gave him his first victory on the Senior Tour. In the end he beat Ian Woosnam and Phil Golding by four and the luxury of a three-shot lead at the last was extended when he rolled in a 20-footer to finish at -8 over the Duke’s Course.
Woosnam hit the ball well, as ever, but was unable to hole the putts in a final-round 73. Bossert moves from 24th on the Money List all the way to sixth. His last win came on the Challenge Tour while his biggest victory came at the 1995 Cannes Open, the year after Woosnam won there.
WATCH: Highlights from the final round of the #TPMasters as André Bossert secured a maiden Senior Tour title pic.twitter.com/fMZz0UMDQU
— European Senior Tour (@EuroSeniorTour) September 4, 2016
What Bossert said: “To me this is the biggest event on the Senior Tour so to get my first win here is something of a dream to be honest. And to do it in the company of a legend like Woosie makes it even more special.
“Carl, my caddie, and I talked over our strategy this morning and we stuck to the usual routine which is to play the course in segments of three. We always try to make one birdie for every three holes and thankfully today we got close to that. The only time I played conservatively today was coming down the last. The only thing I wanted to do with that approach was not go long, so I played the shot as though the pin was five yard shorter and just took going long out of play.”
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
