Alexander Noren wins Saab Wales Open

Alexander Noren of Sweden beat Denmark's Anders Hansen and Gregory Bourdy of France by two shots to win the Saab Wales Open at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.

Alexander Noren
Fergus Bisset
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Alexander Noren of Sweden beat Denmark's Anders Hansen and Gregory Bourdy of France by two shots to win the Saab Wales Open at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.

Noren began the final round one clear of the field and he fired a solid closing 70 that included two birdies and just one bogey at the driveable par-4 15th. It was a second European Tour title for the Swede and he was delighted with his consistency through the week.

"I've proved to myself I can hit a lot of greens and not just rely on my short game," he said.

It was a great week for Noren as he had already successfully come through US Open qualifying at Walton Heath on Monday. But there was no time for the 28-year-old to reflect on his successes as he travelled to Sunningdale this Monday to complete 36-holes of qualifying for the Open Championship.

"I'll celebrate on Tuesday," he said.

Anders Hansen and Peter Hanson were Noren's closest challengers at the start of the final round but neither could get on terms with their fellow Scandinavian. Hansen finished in a tie for second with Gregory Bourdy, who set a clubhouse target of 7-under-par with an excellent final round of 67. Peter Hanson dropped back into a tie for fourth.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell had been in second place after 36 holes but a disappointing third round of 81 saw him drop away from contention. He finished in a tie for 30th place.

Saab Wales Open The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales June 2-5, purse £1,800,000, par 71

1   Alexander Noren (Swe)   67   67   71   70   275   €344,358 T2   Gregory Bourdy (Fra)   67   73   70   67   277   €179,456 T2   Anders Hansen (Den)   70   70   66   71   277   €179,456 T4   Johan Edfors (Swe)   68   71   70   69   278   €81,303 T4   Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg)   71   67   73   67   278   €81,303 T4   Peter Hanson (Swe)   65   72   69   72   278   €81,303 T4   Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)   70   70   71   67   278   €81,303 T8   Magnus Carlsson (Swe) 71   70   69   70   280   €44,319 T8   Jamie Donaldson (Wal)   68   68   71   73   280   €44,319 T8   Joel Sjoholm (Swe)   72   69   71   68   280   €44,319 T8   Peter Whiteford (Sco)   70   70   73   67   280   €44,319

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only Where next? PGA Tour: Stricker wins the Memorial

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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