Sweden’s Alexander Noren rewrote the record books when a third-round 63 gave him an 11-shot lead at the Nordea Masters in Bro Hof Slott on Saturday.
The 29-year-old chopped two shots off the course record and established the joint second-highest lead in European Tour history as he moved to a huge 20-under after three rounds.
Only South Africa’s Retief Goosen, who was 13 shots clear at the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic, has been further ahead with one round left to play.
“Unreal, obviously,” said Wales Open winner Noren, before heading to a friend’s wedding to drink “water and Diet Coke.”
“It was an amazing feeling. I never thought it would be possible to shoot these scores. Every shot went the way I wanted — I don’t know what to say — I’m just so happy to play like this,” he told the European Tour Web site. “It’s hard to sink in. I’ve never dreamed of playing like this here, I just thought if I make the cut I will be happy this week. Twenty-under is better than I can imagine.”
Noren had led by three overnight from India’s Shiv Kapur.
He hit his first birdie of the day from six feet at the fifth, while an eagle followed at the par-five ninth to turn in a four-under 32.
Noren added further birdies on the 12th, 13th, 15th and 18th.
Bubba Watson of the US, 11 shots behind in second place, praised Noren after his round — comparing his performance to that of Rory McIlroy at last month’s US Open.
“He’s playing so good right now, like McIlroy in the States at the US Open,” Watson said after a 69. “When a guy’s playing that good, you can only keep going and do your best. I was just thinking one shot at a time.”
Sweden’s Christian Nilsson impressed with a 66 to join South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl in a share of third on eight-under.
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