Tranlate this title Crans, Thriston Lawrence makes history: third win in spanish

Thriston Lawrence tied Seve Ballesteros as the only player to win the Omega European Masters three times. The South African defeated Paul Casey in a four-hole playoff at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, finishing the tournament 18 points behind.

Alps Tour, results

Lawrence had led at halfway, but a 73 (+3) on Moving Day had pushed him back. On Sunday, he started six shots behind Casey and produced a brilliant, error-free 62, setting the clubhouse target at 18 points. Casey, after recovering and taking a one-shot lead on the final hole, bogeyed and sent the match to a playoff. With three pars each, Lawrence closed with a birdie from about 23 feet, while the Englishman missed from the collar.

“It’s crazy, probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. I can’t believe it, I fought with everything I had. I feel sorry for Paul, he played so well. Sharing this achievement with Seve is incredible,” said Lawrence after defending the title he won in 2025 (and already won in 2022). Casey erased his lead in the final stages, but a double bogey on the sixth hole brought him back. Lawrence took the lead with a birdie on the 12th, then extended it to two shots. Casey then turned the tables with consecutive birdies, getting to 19 points, but his par putt on the final hole missed, forcing a playoff, the eleventh in the last 19 editions of the tournament. Harry Hall finished third at 17 points with a flawless 63 (eagle and five birdies). One shot behind, at 16 points, were the Spanish trio Hidalgo, Ayora, and Chacarra, along with Austria’s Wiesberger and Francesco Laporta.

Francesco Laporta had one of the best weeks for the Italian team in recent memory: 67-67-65-65 to finish 16 points behind and share fourth place. This solid result propels him among the best in the field. Stefano Mazzoli (67-70-69-67) and Edoardo Molinari (71-63-69-70) finished 39th at 7 points behind. Guido Migliozzi finished 57th and Gregorio De Leo 61st. Renato Paratore, Matteo Manassero, and Filippo Celli all missed the cut.

Joel Girrbach, the only local player to survive the weekend, finished 15 points behind, along with Matt Wallace, rounding out the top ten. Paul Casey announced he will donate the entire second-place prize (approximately €354,000) to the Beloved Foundation, which is linked to the tragedy of the New Year’s Eve fire in Crans Montana.

The «Back 9» phase of the DP World Tour continues, and this week the European circuit heads to the mountains, amid the spectacular views of Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club. From September 3rd to 6th, the Omega European Masters takes place, one of the most fascinating and enduring events on the calendar: a 6,246-meter par-70 course at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters, where the ball flies farther and the small, fast greens require absolute precision.

Twelve months ago, Thriston Lawrence secured a thrilling victory, the second of his career on this very course. Arriving in Switzerland in the midst of a poor showing (98th in the Race to Dubai), the South African, in his first year as a dual member of the PGA Tour, has rediscovered his form. Starting with a one-shot lead in the final round, he suffered three consecutive bogeys and found himself two down. Then came the reaction: eagles and birdies on the tee-shot par-4s at holes 6 and 7, followed by four more birdies that secured the win by two shots.

The second phase of the season kicked off last week with the Husqvarna British Masters, won by Joe Dean at the Belfry. After Crans-Montana, the Amgen Irish Open will follow, followed by the Rolex Series with the BMW PGA Championship. The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, between the Open de France and the Open de España, will follow, before the Back 9 concludes with the DP World India Championship and the Genesis Championship. At the end of this phase, the top 70 players from the Race to Dubai will advance to the Playoffs, while the top 100 will retain their cards for next season.