CRANS-MONTANA: Sweden's Alex Noren beat Australia's Scott Hend at the first play-off hole to win the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland on Sunday.
Noren had trailed Hend by a shot heading into the final round but a five-under-par 65 allowed him to finish level on 17 under with Hend, who had a 66.
The pair then had to go back up the 18th and Hend hit his tee-shot towards the trees on the left but saw his ball bounce back to the fairway and only just cleared the water with his second, as Noren put his second from the fairway to 30 feet.
The Australian chipped to eight feet but Noren holed his putt for the birdie and the win.
It is the second time the Swede has won the European Masters after a previous triumph in 2009, and his second win of the year following hus Scottish Open victory in July.
Noren birdied the first and a run of four straight birdies from the sixth put him two shots clear at the turn, with Hend claiming birdies at the fifth and ninth.
However, Hend fought back on the homeward stretch to force the play-off, bogeying the 11th but then managing three birdies at the next four holes.
Noren was level on the back nine and a sudden death play-off awaited after Hend got up and down from the back of the green for par at the last while his Swedish opponent could not convert a long birdie attempt.
England's Andrew Johnston finished third at 14 under par, with Lee Westwood -- a wildcard pick in the Europe team for the upcoming Ryder Cup -- two shots further back in fourth after finishing with a 63.
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