Finch stands strong in the gales but Noren’s lead proves too much

Noren took an 11-shot lead into the final day of the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club after a course-record 63 yesterday.

And the 29-year-old was never in serious danger of letting such a commanding advantage slip, with no-one able to mount a charge as strong winds sent scores soaring.

Noren – who is coached by Rotherham’s Pete Cowen – at least finished in style with a birdie on the last for a 15-under-par total of 273, finishing seven shots clear of Hull’s Finch.

Finch had set the clubhouse target on eight under par after a superb 69, the lowest round of the day which made him the only man to break par, despite running up a triple-bogey six on the par-three 17th.

Sweden’s Niklas Lemke, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, finished third on five under, with Australia’s Scott Hend and Spain’s Pablo Martin a shot further back.

American Bubba Watson had been second overnight but closed with a 78 to drop back into a share of sixth place alongside compatriot Dustin Johnson, who finished with a 74.

Noren birdied the opening hole to move to 21 under par, but dropped shots at the third, fourth, sixth and ninth to be out in 39.

However, four straight pars then steadied his nerves and meant he could afford to drop further shots at the 14th and 16th before safely negotiating the treacherous 17th - a par-three with an island green.

Noren, who also won the Wales Open at Celtic Manor earlier this season, said: “I am so relieved. The only thing I thought of all day was the 17th. I said it doesn’t matter how I play up to that, I just have to survive 17 and I did.

“I’ve never seen wind like this in Sweden. Every hole was super tough and even downwind it was hard to choose the clubs.”

Speaking about winning on home soil, Noren added: “It’s even more amazing at home, everyone cheering you on and you don’t really feel that somewhere else. It’s amazing, you see some friendly faces in the crowd and it’s unbelievable. I’m very happy.”

American Russ Cochran yesterday won the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath with a closing 67.

The 52-year-old left-hander finished 12 under par, two ahead of fellow overnight leader Mark Calcavecchia.

Former Ryder Cup captains Tom Watson and Corey Pavin shared third place a shot further back after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively, with England’s Barry Lane fifth another stroke adrift.

“It feels great,” Cochran said at the trophy presentation. “I had my son on the bag, I told him I was going to work hard and come away with something good and I think he was the lucky charm.”

Victory for Calcavecchia would have made him only the fourth man to win the Senior Open having won the Open itself, with Bob Charles, Gary Player and Watson the men to have done it to date.