Round 4 - Alex Noren wins with record 62

May 29, 2017

Sweden's Alex Noren came from seven shots off the pace in the final round to win the European PGA Championship by two shots here at Wentworth on Sunday.

The 34-year-old produced some stunning golf to go round in 62 –- 10-under-par –- for a winning total of 277, 11-under.

It is the second time he has shot a 62 on tour -– he managed it at the Portuguese Open –- and it was his fifth win in the last 11 months following victories at the Scottish Open, European Masters, British Masters and the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2016.

Italy's Francesco Molinari birdied the last two holes to take second place outright on nine under par after a 68, one shot ahead of Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and Japan's Hideto Tanihara.

Noren assumed he had slipped out of contention on Saturday when he double-bogeyed the 18th and was not entertaining thoughts of victory.

"I didn't even think about it," he said.

"I came off the course angry on Saturday after chipping into the water at the 18th -– but I holed so many putts and that gives you so much confidence and everything seems possible."

His playing partner Peter Uihlein eulogised about the round saying it was the best he had ever seen.

Noren refused to go that far, but admitted: "I putted probably the best I've ever putted."

Colsaerts handed in a 65, including two eagles on the back nine, but was left to rue a double bogey six on the 15th which marred his round.

Noren had four birdies in his outward nine and another four coming home before he holed a 10-foot putt on the par-5 18th for an eagle.

He finished his round two hours before the overnight leaders but no-one in the field managed to come close to threatening him.

He equalled the record for the number of strokes behind a winner of this tournament has come from and now sits alongside Rory McIlory, in 2014, and Simon Khan, in 2010, who also won from seven behind.

Stenson was full of praise for his compatriot.

"He went out early and played a great round. It must be a lot of good stuff in there to shoot 62, that's for sure," said Stenson.

"He timed it right, a good one; when the last groups hit 9, it started raining heavily and we played in some rain for a couple of holes there. I'm sure he wasn't crying in the clubhouse at that point."

Veteran Englishman Lee Westwood's challenge faded after he teed off in the penultimate group.

Westwood, who has played this tournament 24 times without winning it, was round in 73, one over par, and finished in a tie for 14th spot.

Round 3 - Andrew Dodt edges ahead

May 28, 2017

Andrew Dodt of Australia will take a one-stroke lead into the final day of the BMW PGA Championship after shooting a 4-under 68 in the third round on Saturday.

South Africa's Branden Grace is a shot behind Dodt, a two-time winner on the European Tour, after a 70 at Wentworth.

Lee Westwood (72) and overnight co-leader Francesco Molinari (74) are a further two shots back.

Thomas Pieters and Scott Jamieson shared the lead with Molinari after the second round of the tour's signature event but shot 78 and 76, respectively, to drop off the leaderboard.

Dodt's two wins came at the Avantha Masters in India in 2010 and the True Thailand Classic in 2015.

Round 2 - Trio share halfway lead

May 27, 2017

Belgian Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters, Italy's Francesco Molinari, and Scotland's Scott Jamieson shared the halfway lead in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Friday.

The trio sit on 7-under-par overall, one shot ahead of German golfer Max Kieffer.

Pieters, who tied for fourth at the Masters in his last tournament last month, recorded a round of 3-under 69 to set the target for the late starters.

Molinari dropped two shots on the opening nine but roared back into contention with three birdies in the closing six holes, including at 17 and 18, for a 70.

Jamieson dropped three shots in his first three holes to fall five off the lead, but a run of six birdies in seven holes around the turn saw him surge back up the leaderboard. He carded 70, too.

Henrik Stenson (71) and Lee Westwood (69) were two shots behind the leaders, along with Branden Grace (71) and former champion Byeong-hun An (69).

Olympic champion Justin Rose needed an eagle on the final hole to make the cut. Rose sat on 2 over.

Ian Poulter, who returned to form with second place in the Players Championship at Sawgrass last week, described his putting as ''pathetic'' despite a second round of 69.

The Englishman, eight shots off the halfway lead, said: ''I had really good opportunities to birdie all the way back into the clubhouse and I didn't do it.''

Round 1 - Johan Carlsson leads with opening 66

May 26, 2017

Sweden's Johan Carlsson leads the European PGA Championship at Wentworth after shooting a first round 66, six-under par in the first round on Thursday.

Carlsson holds a one shot advantage over Italy's Francesco Molinari, Scotland's Scott Jamieson and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, from Thailand, who all handed in 67s.

There were a cluster of players a further shot back on 68 including British Open champion Henrik Stenson and his fellow Swede Alex Noren, the world number 13, as the field enjoyed perfect scoring conditions on a revamped West Course without ripping it to pieces.

Carlsson missed six successive cuts recently but found some form at the China Open where he finished 24th and in Sicily last week where he was 18th.

He had three birdies from the third to help him to an outward nine of 30 and came back in 36, one-under par, spoiling his chance to have a bigger lead with bogey at the par-5 18th.

Despite his poor form earlier this season the 30-year-old has always had one eye on this tournament -– the European Tour's flagship event.

"This week is a big week and I've always had that goal in mind," he said after his round.

"This is going to be a tournament to get it around no matter what; play with what you have, and that's what I did.

"I didn't try to hit any super fancy shots. I just played with what I had and I think that was the key to success, what I've been doing kind of into this tournament."

Aphibarnrat was out in 31 and held his back nine together whilst Molinari made the most of the two finishing par-5s, recording birdies at both.

Stenson, who won the British Open at Troon last summer, missed three cuts in the United States before finishing tied for 16th at the Players' Championship at Sawgrass and did not get his round going until the back nine.

He was level par going out before racking up four birdies coming home to get to within two shots of his countryman Carlsson.

Another on four-under par was Ireland's Shane Lowry along with Welshman Bradley Dredge and Italy's Nino Bertasio and South African Branden Grace.

Defending champion Chris Wood was round in 72, level par, and joked he would like to see the new greens replaced by the ones from last year.

Four of the putting surfaces have been rebuilt, and five modified, after complaints from the players but Wood would have preferred it if the organisers had stuck with what they had.

"I wish I could take them up and put the old ones back," he said.

"I didn't have any confidence from inside four or five feet. But you can't blame the greens -– I suppose it's just a case of me getting used to them."

England's Ian Poulter, who appeared rejuvenated after finishing second in the Players' Championship, needs a high finish here to boost his chances of making next month's US Open.

But he is up against it after a 76, four-over par, which included a solitary birdie.

Scores

 

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