Scandinavian Invitation: The Debrief

Erik van Rooyen won his maiden European Tour title at the Scandinavian Invitation in one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Van Rooyen wins at last

Maybe he was starting to think it would never come? Last season's European Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year had enjoyed an excellent start to his European Tour career but after being in contention on numerous occasions his best result was three second places from 64 events. He looked in control for most of Sunday as he challenged again but when he three putted the 17th and five time European Tour winner Matthew Fitzpatrick finished birdie-birdie to join him at the top of the leaderboard, he must have been thinking 'here we go again'. He needn't have worried. Showing nerves of steel, he got up and down from the front of the green at the par five last, making a 15 footer for a closing birdie and the win. "It's too good, it's hard to describe," he said. "I was so nervous on 18. On 17 I was fine, I just didn't hit that putt hard enough and then I asked (caddie) Alex, 'what are we at?' and he told me that Matt went birdie-birdie. I've been putting so well all day and to hole that one to win my first one is pretty cool. I've gone close a bunch of times and every time I'm in contention the question gets asked. I'm just so proud of myself and Alex and everybody, I'm over the moon."

Waring is Swede on Noren

Seven weeks before Paul Waring lifted the trophy at this event last season for a maiden European Tour win, Alex Noren claimed his tenth and a second Rolex Series title at the HNA Open de France. That prompted Waring to send this tweet.

This week at Hills, the two of them took on the 14 Club Challenge and were then paired together for days one and two. Clearly they could not cope with being separated and both men played their first two rounds in one under to go out together again on Saturday. Moliwood may have some competition.

Everybody else is Swede on Stenson

The crowds in Sweden always come out in big numbers but there is more of a buzz when Henrik Stenson is around. The home hero is his country's only male Major Champion and he did not disappoint this week, taking his adoring fans on a roller coaster. After two early bogeys on day one he brought the crowds to life with four birdies in a row in a 69. He had the fans in raptures when he made six in a row on Friday en rouute to a 62 and he bounced back from an opening double bogey on the first on Saturday to stay in contention. A monster putt on the third in round three had brought the loudest cheer of the week but that was nothing compared to his hole-in-one on the sixth on Sunday. He may not have got over the line this week, but Henrik was king in Sweden.

Speaking of aces

Adam Bland's first round was heading in the wrong direction on the front nine, as he made one bogey and a double bogey to reach the turn in 39. But the Australian put all that behind him at the par three tenth, holing his tee shot to fire the 23rd ace of the European Tour season and walk away with a Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 4 Motion for his efforts. Stenson's effort on Sunday took the total to 24.

Little rising stars off the course

Here at the European Tour we've had little Billy interviewing our biggest stars but this week in Sweden we had a pair of seven-year-old on course reporters. Twin brothers Elijah and Elliot made a couple of friends in Thomas Bjørn and Andrew 'Beef' Johnston and a future in broadcasting could be on the cards for these little stars.