British Masters final leaderboard: Alex Noren fires Ryder Cup reminder with Belfry victory

Alex Noren gave Luke Donald a Ryder Cup selection headache with victory at the Betfred British Masters as Rasmus Hojgaard secured his place on the European team for Bethpage.

Noren, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury for the first four months of the year and seemingly out of the Ryder Cup reckoning, emerged as a strong contender for a captain's pick as he clinched a one-shot win over Nicolai Hojgaard and Kazuma Kobori at The Belfry.

Rasmus Hojgaard admitted to being "stressed out" during his closing 71, finishing in a tie for 13th which earned him enough points to pip Shane Lowry to the sixth and final automatic Ryder Cup place in the final qualifying event.

Lowry, Noren and 2023 debutant Nicolai Hojgaard will now be on Luke Donald's shortlist for his six captain's picks for Europe along with Matt Fitzpatrick, who led after 54 holes before stumbling to a two-over 74 on a disappointing Sunday.

Noren, the 2016 British Masters winner, appeared too far off the pace to challenge for the title at the turn, but the veteran Swede started the back nine with birdies at 10 and 11 and he added three in a row from the 15th to race into the outright lead on 17 under.

With Nicolai Hojgaard and Kobori both in the clubhouse on 15 under par, Noren had the luxury of a two-shot lead as he stood on the daunting 18th tee, but a wayward drive left him unable to go for the green in two.

Noren's third came up short of the putting surface and he clipped a nervy chip to six feet, but he held his nerve to rattle in the winning bogey putt to clinch his 11th DP World title, and his first for over seven years.

The 43-year-old last tasted victory in July 2018 in the Open de France at Le Golf National, where he would star for Europe on his Ryder Cup debut a few weeks later.

He "dismissed" talk of him being in the conversation for one of Donald's captain's picks when the European skipper announces his six wildcards on 1 September, but Noren's experience and recent good form would surely be a big asset for Europe at Bethpage.

"I still think it's dismissed," he said with a smile when asked about his Ryder Cup chances. "Yeah, it would be great, but I'm more just happy to get this win. First time in seven years, it feels great.

"It means a lot. It was a great, great week, and I don't think I played like this for a very long time. So to get it done at the end, had a little hiccup on the last, but I'm extremely proud of myself."