Hojgaard Earns Ryder Cup Spot As Noren Wins At Belfry

British Masters last leaderboard

-16 A Noren (Swe); -15 K Kobori (NZ), N Hojgaard (Den); -13 K Nakajima (Jpn)

Selected: -12 A Sullivan (Eng); -10 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), M Penge (Eng); -9 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -8 R Hojgaard (Den); -4 A Rai (Eng), M Wallace (Eng)

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An affectional Rasmus Hojgaard claimed nan past automatic spot connected Europe's Ryder Cup squad pinch a battling last information astatine nan Betfred British Masters, arsenic Sweden's Alex Noren claimed nan title.

Needing a top-29 decorativeness to move into sixth connected nan ranking list, supra Ireland's Shane Lowry, Hojgaard carded a one-under 71 to decorativeness connected 8 nether par and associated 13th.

"I've been truthful stressed retired connected nan people and I was telling my caddie I don't cognize really I'm going to beryllium capable to do this," said Hojgaard of his last information nan Belfry.

"I'm complete nan moon."

Hojgaard joins Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton arsenic Europe's six qualifiers.

On Monday, 1 September, skipper Luke Donald will prime six different players to complete his 12-strong squad to return connected nan United States astatine Bethpage Black successful New York from 26-28 September.

Hojgaard looked to beryllium coasting to his target erstwhile he rolled successful 3 successive birdies from nan 2nd spread but a tally of 4 bogeys successful 8 holes unsettled nan 24-year-old Dane.

"I knew each bogey was costly," he said connected Sky Sports.

"I was alert of nan situation. A mates of times I had to calm myself down and not fto it rotation retired of control. Every spread was a reliable battle."

Noren missed 7 months of nan Ryder Cup qualification play pinch a hamstring injury, only returning successful May.

The 43-year-old Swede changeable a 65 connected Saturday to catapult himself up nan leaderboard and past posted a five-under 67 connected Sunday to gain a one-shot triumph complete New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori and Nicolai Hojgaard - copy relative of Rasmus.

His only Ryder Cup quality came successful France 7 years ago, wherever he won 2 of his 3 matches, successful nan foursomes alongside Sergio Garcia.

On Saturday, erstwhile asked whether he thought a triumph mightiness put him into nan thoughts of Donald, he replied: "I'm not reasoning astir that."

When asked again connected Sunday, aft claiming a first triumph successful 7 years, he said: "It would beryllium great, but I'm much conscionable happy to get this win."

It was his 2nd British Masters title and 11th triumph connected nan DP World Tour, putting him level pinch Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson for nan astir by a Swede.

A tally of 5 birdies successful 8 holes connected nan backmost 9 had fixed him a two-shot cushion connected nan last. But a bad boy thrust and a misjudged 3rd changeable led to him needing to spread a six-foot bogey putt to seal nan win.

Kobori had group nan target astatine 15 nether by draining 2 60-foot putts arsenic he picked up 5 shots successful his last 4 holes.

He was joined connected that number by Nicolai Hojgaard, who is besides pushing for a Ryder Cup wildcard spot, having been a personnel of Donald's squad successful Rome successful 2023.

Could Nicolai Hojgaard get nan motion up of Matt Fitzpatrick?

The Englishman, who revealed Donald urged him to play successful this tournament, led by 1 heading into nan last information but a closing 74 near him good disconnected nan gait astatine 10 under.

He said aft information 3 that his extremity "was to make a lawsuit for myself [for nan Ryder Cup]". Whether nan 2022 US Open champion has done enough, we will find retired connected 1 September.

Lowry, who vanished seventh connected nan rankings list, is among those looking nailed connected for selection.

Austria's Sepp Straka, who has won doubly connected nan PGA Tour this play vanished eighth connected nan list, conscionable supra Ludvig Aberg of Sweden and Norway's Viktor Hovland.

All 3 played successful nan triumph successful Rome successful 2023 and Donald whitethorn opt for that acquisition arsenic Europe look to grounds a first distant triumph successful nan biennial arena since nan 'Miracle of Medinah' successful 2012.

Jon Rahm, who won nan LIV Golf individual title, looks definite to beryllium included fixed he contributed 3½ points successful a losing origin astatine Whistling Straits successful 2021 and 3 much successful Italy.

Of nan others chasing a spot, Englishman Matt Wallace, who was 11th successful nan standings heading into nan last qualification event, astir apt needed a triumph but faded connected nan last day, posting a 77 to decorativeness 4 under.

Marco Penge, who has won doubly this year, including past week's Danish Championship, closed pinch a 72 and 10 nether total, while Aaron Rai vanished alongside Wallace.