Sweden's Alex Noren celebrates winning the PGA Championship at Wentworth after a play-off

London (AFP) - Ryder Cup vice-captain Alex Noren upstaged Team Europe’s players to snatch a play-off victory in the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday

The Swede went into the final round tied for the lead with France’s Adrien Saddier and the pair were still locked together at 19-under after matching 68s.

After both men sent their second shots into the rough at the first extra hole, they were neck and neck once again.

But the in-form Noren, who won his first crown at Wentworth Club in 2017, lifted his ball to three feet before tapping in a birdie putt to claim his 12th European title and second of the season.

Noren, one of the non-playing vice-captains in Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup team, outshone all 11 of the 12 golfers who will be representing Europe at the tournament in the United States later this month.

But he said it had been a struggle on Sunday.

“You’ve just got to fight. Sometimes it comes too easy and sometimes you’ve just got to fight and today it felt like a fight,” he said.

“I think he probably outplayed me tee-to-green. But that’s how it goes.”

England’s Aaron Rai was tied for third with Patrick Reed after they both carded final-round 66s while European Ryder Cup trio Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland all ended on 15 under.

Adding to an encouraging week for Team Europe, Jon Rahm moved to a share of 13th with a six-under 66, while Rory McIlroy jumped inside the top 20 after closing a final-round 65 with a stunning long-range eagle.

Earlier, Noren made two early birdies in his fourth round to go two shots clear but he dropped a shot on the fifth hole and just one shot separated the players at the turn.

Saddier made a lightning-quick start to the back nine, picking up three birdies in five holes, while Noren made back-to-back gains on the 12th and 13th before saving par in spectacular fashion at the 14th.

There was drama still to come as Saddier’s tee-shot at the 15th landed in a spectator’s hood instead of potentially going out of bounds, and he took full advantage of his lucky break by saving par there.

As the rain lashed down, the two players remained neck and neck with birdies at the 17th and both men parred the last.

But Noren came out on top on the first hole of the play-off, emerging triumphant just weeks after winning the British Masters.

The European Ryder Cup team will reassemble in New York to face the United States from September 26 to 28, seeking to defend the title they won in Rome in 2023.