Alex Noren captured the British Masters, defeating Kiwi Kazuma Kobori by a shot, but it was the Dane’s qualification for next month’s Ryder Cup that captured just as much attention.
In an 11-minute chat with a gathering of journalists, the world No.36 was at pains to avoid the politics of his presence, preferring to focus on the incentives he has to play well in his first DP World Tour regular season event since the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
This Betfred British Masters (hosted by Nick Faldo) was different in a way that took on a life of its own during an epic closing round by Kiwi Daniel Hillier.
Understandably emotional only eight months after being cleared of wrongdoing after alleged incidents on a flight from the US to London saw him end up in a court of law, Olesen was close to tears more than once.
Nobody beats Richard Bland more than 477 times in a row. Finally putting an end to almost two decades of professional futility, the 48-year-old Englishman is at last a winner on the European Tour.