Alex Noren ends seven-year wait with British Masters triumph

Noren, who first won this event in 2016, started the day one shot off the lead but took over at the top early in his final round before getting locked in a fierce battle with Dane Hojgaard.

New Zealander Kobori stormed into contention late on with an eagle and four birdies in his final six holes to set the clubhouse target at 15 under par.

But Swede Noren produced a big finish of his own, picking up birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th to take a two-shot lead to the 18th tee.

He suffered a late scare as an errant tee-shot at the last cost him a shot there but he finished the week on 16 under to return to the winner's circle for the first time since the 2018 Open de France.

Kobori and Højgaard finished in a tie for second, while the Dane's twin brother Rasmus Hojgaard became the final player to qualify for the European Ryder Cup Team after finishing in a tie for 13th on eight under.

Noren started brightly on Sunday, setting up a tap-in birdie at the second with a delightful approach to take the outright lead before making it back-to-back gains from close range at the par-five third.

He created further chances on the front nine, with his long-range birdie try at the fifth narrowly missing the hole, but could not increase his advantage.

And after bogeying the ninth, the 43-year-old found himself two shots back at the turn.

But he responded with two consecutive birdies from around 15 feet at the tenth and 11th to grab a share of the lead before reeling off a hat-trick of gains from the 15th to give himself a two-shot cushion going down the last.

There were late nerves as Noren only found the 18th green with his fourth shot but he showed his mettle by holing from seven feet for a bogey, which was good enough to earn him victory.

Noren said: "It means a lot. It was a great, great week.

"I don't think I've played like this for a very long time, and to get it done at the end, a little hiccup on the last, but extremely proud of myself.

"I told (caddie) Kyle (Morrison) earlier this year, 'We are going to get it. We are going to get into good golf again after kind of a bumpy year', and we did. The last three starts have been great.

"Super happy and super happy to do it here in Britain. I seem to love British people and British courses. So it's wonderful here."

With European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald making his six picks for next month's biennial showpiece in just over a week, Noren's win may have captured his attention.

But Noren, who missed many months of the qualification period through injury, is only focusing on his return to winning ways.

He said: "It would be great. But I'm more just happy to get this win. First time in seven years, it feels great."

Keita Nakajima finished alone in fourth on 13 under, one stroke ahead of home favourite Andy Sullivan in solo fifth.