Paul Casey misses emotional victory at Crans-Montana: Thriston Lawrence defends European Masters title

Paul Casey had one shot lead standing on the 18th tee, but his wedge approach from the rough flew too far, crossed the creek and stopped on the other side. The resulting bogey sent him into a playoff at the Omega European Masters. Three playoff holes were pars; then Thriston Lawrence made birdie on the fourth extra hole to clinch his sixth DP World Tour title and his third at this event. Lawrence, the defending champion, produced a bogey-free 62 with eight birdies to reach 18 under par. Casey fought back with four birdies in five holes from the 11th, but a closing bogey meant he had to settle for a four-hole playoff. The South African equaled Seve Ballesteros as the only three-time winners of the European Masters and received the trophy from Omega ambassador Cindy Crawford. For Casey, the week carried enormous emotional weight. He had taken a three-shot lead after 54 holes and pledged his entire prize check of $412,500 to charities supporting victims of the devastating Crans-Montana fire on January 1, 2026, which killed 40 people and injured more than 115. Casey, now based in Switzerland and playing on LIV Golf, was searching for his first worldwide victory since the 2026 Dubai Desert Classic. His final round was full of struggle. He saved par with one-handed recoveries early, made bogey and double bogey, but still smiled through a television walk-and-talk after hitting out of bounds on the sixth. Angel Hidalgo made five straight birdies to threaten, while Patrick Reed faded after a double bogey on the seventh. In the playoff, Lawrence stayed calm and birdied the fourth extra hole. The defeat gives Casey reason to look ahead. If LIV Golf remains uncertain, he could rejoin the DP World Tour in 2027. Because his last LIV start was in Indianapolis in late August 2026, he would face a one-year PGA Tour ban. Casey turns 50 in late July 2027, making him eligible for PGA Tour Champions within about a month.