Noren lands Celtic Manor title

Swede Alex Noren won his second European Tour title at Celtic Manor today – and this time all it needed was solid golf rather than a moment of magic.

The 28-year-old’s previous win came in Switzerland two years ago after he sank a bunker shot for an eagle four holes from the end.

Noren has now added the Saab Wales Open at the Ryder Cup venue by two strokes from Dane Anders Hansen and Frenchman Gregory Havret after a closing 70 containing just two birdies and one mistake.

That came on the driveable 15th when, with confidence high and a three-stroke cushion, he went for the green with a three-wood and saw it go left and kick down a bank into a hazard.

A bogey five brought the gap down to two, but he parred the last three holes for a nine under par total of 275.

It completed a dream week that began with him qualifying for the US Open – his first ever major in America.

But Noren’s work goes on. Winning the title and £300,000 does not spare him from 36 holes of Open Championship qualifying at Sunningdale tomorrow.

“It will be weird, but I will look forward to it,” he said.

“My driving has been the best it’s ever been. I never really believed I could do well on tough courses, but now we play them all the time.

“I’ve proved to myself I can hit a lot of greens and not just rely on my short game.”

His name follows that of Graeme McDowell onto the trophy – and last year, of course, the Ulsterman went on to capture the US Open as well.

McDowell had hopes of a successful defence when he was in second place behind Noren at halfway, but then came a nightmare Saturday 81 and even an improvement of 10 strokes today lifted him only to 30th place.