Thriston Lawrence Beats Paul Casey in Playoff for Third Swiss Title

Thriston Lawrence won the 2026 Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on Sunday, closing a six-shot gap on overnight leader Paul Casey with a final-round 62 before beating him with a birdie on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff.

How did Lawrence make up six shots?

Casey started the final round three clear of the field, but went over par on the front nine while Lawrence, Angel Hidalgo and Harry Hall all charged. Lawrence's closing 62 included eight birdies and no bogeys, four on each nine, for a 72-hole total of 18-under 262. Casey answered with four birdies in five holes on the back nine to take a one-shot lead standing on the final tee, but his par putt on the 72nd hole lipped out, forcing extra holes with a closing 68.

What happened in the playoff?

Casey had four total chances to win on the 18th hole -- one in regulation and three more across the playoff -- and made none of them. Lawrence converted his first opportunity, holing a putt reported between 18 and 23 feet by various outlets. "It's probably the most emotion I've ever shown in a happy way," Lawrence said afterward.

Casey played a three-shot lead into a 68 and still lost, because a 62 from the group behind him left no margin for a lipped-out putt.

Where is Casey's prize money going?

Casey, who lives in Switzerland, had said before the final round that all of his prize money would go to Fondation Beloved, a charity supporting victims of the New Year's Day fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which killed 41 people and injured 115. His runner-up check was worth 354,734.74 euros, against Lawrence's winning check of 548,226.41 euros (about $637,500) from a $3.75 million purse.

Lawrence's win, his third at Crans-Montana and sixth on the DP World Tour, moved him from 183rd to 111th in the world ranking. He also picked up 835 Race to Dubai points, rising to 21st in the season standings with the BMW PGA Championship two weeks away.