Ahead of jumping on a plane to serve as a European team vice-captain at the Ryder Cup in New York, Alex Noren claimed his 12th DP World Tour title as he defeated Adrian Saddier in a play-off to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The Swede, who famously carded a final round 62 to win this event in 2017, started the final round in a share of the lead with Saddier as he sought his second victory in the space of just three weeks after winning last month’s Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.
The 43-year-old held a one-stroke lead after the front nine, but Saddier hit back after the turn as he carded four birdies coming home. Noren birdied 12 and 13 and the pair matched each other with gains on the par-five 17th as they moved to 19 under with one hole to play.
They both made par on the tricky 18th to force a play-off, and on the first extra hole – with the rain pouring down in front of a full house – they went blow-for-blow down the left-hand side of the formidable par five. Facing tricky chips, Saddier went over the green and was left with a tricky downhill putt, while Noren hit his attempt to three feet.
Saddier missed his putt on the low side, with Noren making no mistake with his birdie effort to seal the victory and move ahead of Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson to become the Swede with the most victories in Tour history.
Speaking just hours before joining his European Ryder Cup squad members on a flight to New York, Noren said: “I love it here. This tournament is unbelievable. I told all the guys in the States to come over here, and many of them did. I think it’s one of the best tournaments in the world and it just gets better every year.
He added: “It was such a tough back nine in those conditions – when you’re just waiting for the rain to come. Adrien played very well, and I thought the leaderboard was kind of stacked the whole way down to 13, 14. It just kept going.
“You know, you’ve just got to fight. Sometimes it comes too easy and sometimes you’ve just got to fight and today it felt like a fight. I think he [Saddier] probably outplayed me tee-to-green. But that’s how it goes.”
Aaron Rai and Patrick Reed shared third place on 16 under, while Ryder Cup trio Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland tied with Ewen Ferguson, Darren Fichardt and Si Woo Kim a shot further back in a share of fifth.
For all the scores from Wentworth, click here.
