Alex Noren secured his second British Masters title at The Belfry, finishing 16 under to beat Nicolai Hojgaard and Kazuma Kobori by one stroke.
Noren’s victory marked his first DP World Tour win in seven years, with the Swede shooting a five-under 67 in his final round.
The win also impacted the Ryder Cup qualification, with Rasmus Hojgaard securing the final automatic spot for Team Europe.
Matt Fitzpatrick and other high-profile names will have to wait for a captain’s pick to join the Ryder Cup team.
Watch highlights from the British Masters and stay up-to-date with the latest golf news and updates.
The Bet Fred British Masters had an exciting finish as Alex Norin emerged victorious, claiming his second British Masters title. But here’s where it gets interesting. This win came on the same day as a significant Rder Cup development. Norin, a seasoned pro who last won the British Masters in 2016, shot an impressive 5 under 67 in his final round, finishing at 16 under. This put him one stroke ahead of Nikolai Hogard and Kazuma Kabori who shared second place. Hogard had been leading until a crucial bogey at the 16th hole which coincided with Kabor’s impressive six under performance over his final six holes and Norin’s birdies on holes 15, 16, and 17. The Swed’s birdie streak gave him a two-stroke advantage going into the last hole. And although he finished with a bogey, it was enough to secure his 11th DP World Tour title after a seven-year wait. “It means a lot,” Norin said post victory. “I’m extremely proud of myself for getting it done, even with that last hiccup.” When asked about his RDER Cup prospects, Norin, a member of the 2018 European winning team, remained humble. “I think I still dismiss my chances.” Japan’s Kada Nakajima finished three strokes behind Norin in fourth, while Andy Sullivan was the top British challenger in fifth place at 12 under. Matt Fitzpatrick, who held the overnight lead at the Belelfrey on 12 under, one clear of Norin, had a disappointing final round, carding at two over 74 and ending up six shots off the pace. The year-long qualification campaign for the RDER Cup concluded at the Belelfrey with Rasmus Hogard, Nikolai’s twin brother, securing Europe’s final automatic spot. This left several high-profile players, including Shane Lowry, relying on a captain’s pick. Luke Donald, the European team captain, will announce his six captain’s picks on September 1st at Sky Studios live on Sky Sports. The bienial contest will take place at Beth Page Black in New York from September 26th through 28th. The DP World Tour now moves to Switzerland for the Omega European Masters, offering players one last chance to impress Donald before the captain’s picks are revealed. So, who will make the cut for the Rder Cup? And will Norin’s impressive win be enough to secure him a spot? The answers will be revealed soon, but for now, the golf world is buzzing with anticipation.
