Sun City - An indefatigable Alex Noren of Sweden came from behind to win his maiden Nedbank Golf Challenge with a final-round nine-under par 63 helping him to a six-stroke victory at the Gary Player Country Club.
He survived a late charge from overnight leader Jeunghun Wang of South Korea and looked on track to equal the 62-course record but did not have quite the same golden touch over the back nine to sign for a 13-under total of 274.
The swinging Swede began the day six shots behind Wang, who capitulated with a double bogey on the eighth allowing Noren to take a one-stroke lead at the ninth. Noren came into the final round with the hope of finishing with a decent score never mind erasing a six-stroke deficit and returning it with interest.
“I didn’t think I had a chance, honesty, all I was trying to do is get a good round in and get a good feel for next week and a good positive finish,” Noren said.
“The course is tricky and you need to hit the right shots at the right times and be aggressive when you can and stay back when you have to.
“I watched this tournament on TV a lot growing up and it was a tournament I wanted to get into, so I did.”
The victory would launch him into the into the world’s top 10 for the first time after winning the Scottish Open, European Masters and British Masters. Birdie-birdie-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-birdie-par-eagle-birdie over the first 11 holes summed up his extraordinary run to this fourth European Tour title of the season.
Wang shot a three-over 72 in the final round to drop down to second place for an eight-under-par 280. The South Korean had gone from a third-round high finishing on 11-under par 64 keeping bogeys off his card on a day most the field battled with the conditions before shooting five bogeys and a double-bogey on his final round.
“A 64 yesterday (Saturday) is about a 59 today, it was incredibly tough with the wind and the greens so much firmer so you had to keep your patience,” Noren said. “I was kind of happy seeing the rain coming down last night because I knew the course would be a bit softer today and I took advantage of it.”
The victory launched Noren into third place on the Race to Dubai rankings behind fellow Swede Henrik Stenson in the lead and England’s Danny Willett in second place. Noren held a two-stroke lead on after the second round with an eight under par 67 before he battled to a 75 for a total of five under on Saturday.
“It's unbelievable, waking up today, I thought if I can get a decent round in it, because it didn't feel very good yesterday so obviously two good rounds to start with,” Noren said.
“But yesterday was a bit tough and my game wasn't really there. I worked some in the room, tried to get the right feelings for today and it clicked. I don't think I've ever played as good, especially on the greens.”
Wang recovered slightly while Noren showed he was also fallible when he made his one and only drop shot of the day on the par-five 14th hole but did not deter him. Hopes of the first South African victory since 2007 was dashed with Branden Grace finishing as the country’s leading player finishing in a five-way tie for third place on seven under par.
“I would have liked to be third alone, I was very disappointed with the three-putt on 18…but finishing tied third is my best finish here yet, and hopefully next year I can come back and improve on that,” Grace said.
IOL