Alexander Noren wins Nordea Masters

Despite closing with a five-over par 77, Sweden's Alexander Noren cruised to a seven-shot victory over Richard Finch of England in the Nordea Masters at Bro Hoff Slott Golf Club in Stockholm.

Noren set a stunning course-record of 63 on Saturday but he couldn't, and didn't need to, match that in extremely challenging, windy conditions on the final day.

The 29-year-old battled hard to limit the damage on a day where survival was the key to success.

"I'm so relieved," he said after birdying the final hole to secure the win. "I've never seen wind like this in Sweden. Every hole was super tough and even downwind it was hard to choose the clubs."

England's Richard Finch was the only man to break par on the final day. His three-under par 69 was a supreme effort and it was good enough to lift him into second place on his own. The round could have been even better had it not been for a triple bogey six on the, island green, par-3 17th.

"For 17 holes it's the best round of golf I've ever played - absolutely delighted," said Finch. "It was a tough day. The course is tough enough as it is without however many mile an hour winds it is blowing."

Another Swede, Niklas Lemke, finished the week alone in third while Scott Hend of Australia and Pablo Martin of Spain shared fourth. Bubba Watson of the USA struggled to a closing 78 and slipped back into a tie for sixth with his fellow American Dustin Johnson, as well as Asian stars Seung-yul Noh and Jeev Milkha Singh.

With the victory Noren has moved to eighth place in the 2011 Race to Dubai and has climbed into the top-70 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Nordea Masters Bro Hoff Slott Golf Club, Sweden Jul 21-24, purse €1,500,000, par 72

1   Alexander Noren (Swe)   67   66   63   77   273   €250,000 2   Richard Finch (Eng)   69   72   70   69   280   €166,660 3   Niklas Lemke (Swe)   68   72   70   73   283   €93,900 T4   Scott Hend (Aus)      69   70   71   74   284   €69,300 T4   Pablo Martin (Esp)   69   72   69   74   284   €69,300 T6   Dustin Johnson (USA)   73   71   67   74   285   €42,150 T6   Seung-yul Noh (Kor)   73   68   69   75   285   €42,150 T6   Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70   71   69   75   285   €42,150 T6   Bubba Watson (USA)   71   67   69   78   285   €42,150

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Where next? Golf Monthly - Latest issue on sale now