GOLF DIGEST:ALEX NOREN may not have reproduced his majestic third round display at the Scandinavian Masters, but he still registered a comprehensive seven-shot victory in his native Stockholm yesterday.

The 29-year-old, who was quite brilliant in setting a course record 63 on Saturday, carded a closing 77 for a 15 under par aggregate of 273 at Bro Hof Slott.

Having birdied the first, Noren then had five bogeys and a double bogey at the 14th, but successfully negotiated the fearsome par three 17th, which has an island green.

“I am so relieved. The only thing I thought of all day was the 17th,” he said after signing off with a birdie at the last.

“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.”

With an 11 shot advantage at the start of the day Noren was never likely to be caught – nobody had ever come from more than 10 shots behind in the final round to win a European Tour event.

England’s Richard Finch was the only man to break par in strong winds, his three-under 69 good enough for second place.

The highlight came with a 70-foot putt at the 16th – one of six birdies – although he did find the water en route to a triple bogey six at the penultimate hole.

“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.

“It’s the same for everyone so you just have to try and put your best foot forward so I just tried to hit the fairway, hit the green, and see where we can get from there.

“Luckily I managed to get off to a great start with a couple of birdies in the bank, and managed to keep the momentum going.”

Another Swede, Niklas Lemke, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, was a distant third on five under par.

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.

Victory takes Noren into the top 70 in the world rankings and the top 10 on the Race to Dubai.

He becomes the fifth Swedish player to win the event on home soil, capturing his third European Tour title just seven weeks after winning the Saab Wales Open.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Gary Murphy posted a final round of three-under-par 69 to banish the memory of his third day 79 in the English Challenge in Colchester yesterday.

The Drogheda professional finished the week on one over par and back in a tie for 58th spot but he will head to this week’s Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland buoyed by his final round performance in England.

Athlone’s Colm Moriarty, the only other Irishman to make the cut in England, posted a 71 to finish the week on one under and in a tie for 42nd place. Moriarty will join Murphy in Killarney at the Irish Open.

Frenchman Benjamin Hebert took the English Challenge title, carding a final round 70 to take the €25,600 first prize by two strokes from his compatriot Victor Riu.

US TOUR: Americans Sean O'Hair and Kris Blanks were in a share of the lead on four under par in the closing stages of yesterday's final round of the Canadian Open.

Both players had recorded four birdies through 15 holes to hold a two-stroke lead over Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

Woody Austin was the leader in the clubhouse on one under par after a closing two-under 68.

Bo van Pelt, who led overnight after an excellent 65, made a bad start yesterday with a bogey at the par-four first.

He then slipped to four over for the round, including a double-bogey at the 13th, to lie three shots behind the leaders.