Alex Noren defeated Adrien Saddier and overshadowed a host of a Ryder Cup stars to collect the BMW PGA Championship title for the second time.
The 43-year-old Swede, who is one of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup vice-captains for the upcoming biennial contest, came into the final round at Wentworth Club sharing a narrow lead alongside Saddier. In rain-soaked conditions, the pair pulled away from the rest of the chasing pack, including the likes of Ryder Cup players Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Fitzpatrick, but could not be separated as they both carded 4-under 68s to conclude the day on 19 under, forcing a play-off.
But it was Noren who triumphed at the first play-off hole thanks to a sublime shot out of the rough which set him up nicely for a simple birdie putt to claim his second victory at this event and a 12th career DP World Tour win.
“The play-off felt a little bit easier than maybe the 72nd hole, a little bit better conditions,” Noren said. “I thought I hit that one in the water, but I had a great lie so I tried to put it up here on the right side of the green and then got fortunate with a good break that the chip was sitting quite nicely.
“I saw his ball didn’t catch as nice a break maybe, so it makes a difference. Sometimes it comes to you easy and sometimes you’ve just got to fight. Today it felt like a fight. I think he probably outplayed me tee to green, but that’s how it goes.”
For Saddier, it’s his sixth top-10 finish on the DP World Tour this year but yet another near miss after earning his breakthrough victory at the Italian Open in June.
England’s Aaron Rai and American Patrick Reed both finished tied for second after the duo both recorded final-round 66s while there was a six-way tie for fifth with included trio Hovland, Hatton, and Fitzpatrick on 15 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the DP World Tour is the FedEx Open de France taking place between 18-21 September at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Breteche in France.