The 127th-ranked Noren shot a 1-under 70 in the final round for a 9-under total of 275 at Celtic Manor, adding to his win at the 2009 European Masters.

Noren won’t be able to celebrate for too long. He is scheduled to tee off at Sunningdale on Monday in a qualifying tournament for the British Open at Royal St. George’s next month.

“It will be weird but I will look forward to it,” he said. “I can’t believe it still. When the final putt was this far, I knew it was done. It was incredible.”

Gregory Bourdy of France hit the only bogey-free round in a 67 to finish joint runner-up with Anders Hansen of Denmark (71). Swedish pair Johan Edfors (69) and Peter Hanson (72) plus Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal were next at 278.

Noren’s confidence was boosted by coming through a qualifier on Monday for the US Open at Washington’s Congressional course from June 16. It will be only his second major after taking a share of 19th place at the 2008 British Open.

He could still have been forgiven for succumbing to nerves, having only five top-three finishes in 122 previous events on the European Tour since turning pro in 2005. But Noren drove straight all day to make only one bogey in wet and windy conditions, aided by a putter that rarely let him down.

His only blemish was at No. 15 while holding a four-shot lead, sending his tee shot into the water and two-putting after chipping to within 10 feet.

“The pressure was all on the front nine and I said to myself that if I can get through No. 14 a few ahead it would be easier coming down,” Noren said. “My driving is the best it’s ever been, so it makes it even easier. This is the best ball-striking day I’ve had in my whole life.”

He acknowledged feeling some tension after entering the third round with a one-stroke lead, then said he expected a tougher task on Sunday.

It turned out to be anything but.

Helped by Hanson and Hansen failing to mount a challenge and Bourdy leaving his surge too late, Noren never looked like he would be caught.

Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion who was looking to become the first player to retain the title, hit a 71 to improve by 10 strokes on his catastrophic third round. Having trailed by one, he fell 11 off the pace heading into his last competitive round before defending his US Open title.

McDowell struck the ball well in making three straight birdies from No. 9, but four bogeys showed his game still needs some finessing.

“The damage was done yesterday and it was just about trying to repair some of the damage today,” McDowell said. “I have work to do between now and Congressional.”
 
Kim triumphs in Nanshan Masters

In Longkou city, Korean Kim Bi-o, one of the most exciting young golfers in the game, held his nerve to snatch a sudden-death play-off victory at the $1 million Nanshan China Masters on Sunday.

The dynamic 20-year-old holed an eight foot birdie to beat New Zealand’s Michael Long on the third extra hole at Nanshan International Golf Club’s Danling Cuiyuan Course.

Australians Craig Hancock and Scott Laycock also made the playoff with the former going out on the second extra hole and the latter on the first.

Kim, who is making waves as the youngest player on the US PGA Tour this season, again demonstrated his class this week by becoming the youngest winner on OneAsia tour.

He started the day six behind third round leaders Long and Laycock but bagged eight birdies in a storming six-under-par 66 to finish on a 10-under-par 278.

“I was very nervous at the start of the playoff. My heart was beating so fast but I told myself to calm down and relax and enjoy it. If you get too pumped up then you get too nervous and make mistakes,” Kim said.

The par-four 18th was used for the playoff and on their first visit there Kim nearly bowed out when his tee shot found a fairway bunker.

He hit his second 20 yards short of the green and made a brilliant up and down by holing a 12 foot par putt.

On the second extra hole he missed a 20 foot birdie putt to win but made no mistake the next time.

“It has been a rough year because I have missed a lot of cuts in the States. I have not been happy about it but I know that it is going to be difficult because it is golf at the very highest level,” he added.

“I have just got to be patient and the win this week is a massive confidence booster. I am just a rookie and have a lot to learn but I know I love winning golf tournaments.” In 2011 Kim has won $224,536 in 14 events on the US PGA Tour and on his return to OneAsia last month he placed 12th at the SK Telecom Open on home soil.

China’s Zhang Xinjun and Andre Stolz from Australia finished one shot shy of the playoff after they both shot 70.

It was a remarkable performance by the 23-year-old Zhang to finish as the leading player from the mainland. He was introduced to golf when he was a security guard at a golf club in China where he went on to become a caddie.