South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence with the Omega European Masters trophy which he won for the third time on Sunday beating Paul Casey of England on the fourth hole of a playoff at Crans-Montana in Switzerland. Image courtesy DP World/Getty Images.
By Rahul Banerji
Thriston Lawrence underlined his ‘king of the Swiss mountains’ title after winning the Omega European Masters for a third time in a nail-biting play-off at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on Sunday.
The 29-year-old South African needed to survive a four-hole battle with England’s Paul Casey in Crans-Montana following his successes in 2022 and 2025, the DP World Tour said.
“It’s crazy, it’s probably the most emotion I’ve ever shown like in a happy way, normally I cry,” a releived Lawrence noted later.
“I can’t believe it; I fought so hard today and just gave it my everything. I feel for Paul, he played great and it looked like it was his even in the play-off.
Lawrence (64-63-73-62) started on Sunday six shots behind Casey, 49, and mixed four birdies on his front nine with another four on the back to produce a mighty 8 under par final round.
Anxious wait
The bogey-free effort took his tally to 18 under par for the week and set the clubhouse target, with plenty of golf still to be played.
Swiss resident Casey (67-64-63-68), part of the final group, slipped two behind at one stage, but four birdies on the back nine saw him lead by one with the 72nd hole to play.
Despite a lucky escape, where his ball nearly found the water, the 49-year-old who was an integral part of LIV Golf team Crushers GC alongside Indian star Anirban Lahiri, closed with a bogey to go into extra holes.
The pair played the 18th to par three times before Lawrence secured victory with a birdie putt, after his rival had missed his lengthy effort from the fringe.
“To be honest, it’s a weird feeling. I was fairly fine until it got, when Paul got to 18, I was a bit nervous, you know?
“You never know what can happen. He can either make birdie, and it’s game over, or he can make double, and I can win it outright.
“It was stressful, but you don’t want to wish anything on someone, but I just waited to see what happened, and, you know, I don’t have any control of anything, they do, and what happens out there.
Maiden effort
“I’ve never defended any tournament, so to defend my title, up in Crans, is just the best feeling in the world.
“Just the character I showed all day, and just to believe in myself, and really give it my all, is just the best feeling.”
The result sees Lawrence join an exclusive group with the great Seve Ballesteros as the only players to triumph three times in the Swiss event since 1972.
“It’s just the best feeling in the world, honestly the best feeling in the world. I was playing nicely and after the first two rounds, I thought I could shoot eight or nine under and finish well.
“Knew there would be a low 60 in there and I just had to believe and give it my all.
Exalted company
“It’s amazing, to play in a tournament that I think is the longest ever that’s hosted at the same course, and to share three with Seve, I never met him but I’ve always seen clips of him and it’s unbelievable to share that with him.”
The six-time DP World Tour winner climbed to 21st on the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World.
England’s Harry Hall (65-68-67-63) finished solo third a shot back with a bogey-free 63.
Austrian Bernd Weisberger and Italy’s Francesco Laporta joined Spanish trio Eugenio Chacarra, Angel Ayora and Angel Hidalgo in a share of fourth at 16 under.
Home favourite Joel Girrbach carded a final round 65 to finish in a share of ninth, alongside 2024 winner Matt Wallace.
There was further disappointment on Sunday for Shubhankar Sharma who was second after Thursday, tied for eighth on Friday, shared 50th place on Saturday and finished in a tie for 66th with cards of 64, 68, 74 and 75.
Also read: Shubhankar Sharma inside top 10 at Omega European Masters
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