Thriston Lawrence did what Paul Casey could not: convert a winning putt at the Omega European Masters.
Lawrence made a 20-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Casey and successfully defend his title in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. He also joined Seve Ballesteros as the only three-time winner of the DP World Tour event. Lawrence won as well in 2022, while Ballesteros was victorious in 1977, ’78 and ’89.
The two men finished regulation at 18 under par, with Lawrence closing in 8-under 62 and Casey, the overnight leader by three, shooting 68.
Casey, however, had a chance to end it on the 72nd hole. Leading by one, his approach shot from the rough on the par-4 18th landed well short of the green, bounded onto a rock, bounced over a creek and settled in the rough. The fortunate break allowed Casey to chip from a difficult lie to 10 feet past the hole. His winning effort, though, lipped out.
That led to sudden death with Lawrence, who was watching things unfold on TV.
The two men played the 18th hole four times in the extra session. Casey had a 30-foot birdie putt to win on the first extra hole but just missed. He had a 10-footer for birdie to win the second time around and missed low. He then had an 8-foot birdie to win and lipped out.
On the fourth playoff hole, Lawrence finally had an opportunity to end it, and he did. His birdie putt raced into the center of the cup and Lawrence raised his fists and emphatically dropped his putter. It marked the South African’s sixth career tour title.
The series of misses equaled a missed opportunity for Casey. The 49-year-old Englishman, who was sporting his Crushers GC gear, has been with LIV Golf since the summer of 2022. With the league’s future in doubt, a victory at Crans-sur-Sierre GC would have guaranteed him DP World Tour status for the next two years.
Though he didn’t win, Casey, who now lives in Switzerland, donated his second-place check of more than $400,000 to charity. The money will go towards helping victims of a New Year’s Day fire at a Crans-Montana bar that killed 41 and injured 115.