Lawrence Wins Third European Masters in Playoff

Thriston Lawrence claimed the 2026 Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, defeating Paul Casey on the fourth playoff hole to become the first man since Seve Ballesteros to win the title three times.

A closing bogey opens the door

Casey arrived at the 72nd hole holding a one-shot lead at 19-under. His par putt caught the lip and stayed out, dropping him back into a tie with Lawrence at 18-under.

That bogey sent the event into its 11th playoff in 19 editions. Lawrence, who had already posted a clubhouse target with a flawless final round, had a second chance and took it.

Six shots erased in the Alps

Lawrence began Sunday six strokes adrift of Casey after a third-round 73. He fired a bogey-free 62 with eight birdies while Casey stumbled with a double bogey at the 6th.

Lawrence moved ahead with a birdie from five feet at the 12th, added another shot at the 14th, and reached 18-under at the 17th. Both players parred three extra holes before Lawrence converted an 18-foot birdie putt at the fourth playoff hole to win.

"It's crazy, it's probably the most emotion I've ever shown like in a happy way," Lawrence told reporters afterwards. "I can't believe it, I fought so hard today and just gave it my everything."

His earlier European Masters wins came in 2022 and 2025. Since the tournament joined the DP World Tour schedule, only Ballesteros had won it three times — a mark now shared across two generations.

Casey pledged his runner-up prize of €354,734 to a foundation supporting victims of a local fire. Lawrence left Crans-Montana with his name permanently fixed beside one of the game's most romantic figures.