Paul Casey will take a three-shot advantage into the final round of the Omega European Masters after powering up the leaderboard on Saturday at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Related: Thriston Lawrence out in front in Crans-sur-Sierre
The Englishman, who began his day four shots behind, produced a near-flawless performance in the mountains, signing for a 63 to reach sixteen under par.
Casey opened his account with two pars before a gain at the par three third sparked a run of six birdies in seven holes, the impressive stretch seeing him turn in 29 and create a handy buffer at 15 under.
View this post on Instagram
The 49-year-old navigated the change in wind conditions on his back nine, recording just one blemish at the par five 14th thanks to his second shot finding the water. He offset any major damage with a gain at the next, before a birdie on the last extended the margin to three ahead of Sunday’s finale.
The 15-time DP World Tour winner will be aiming to add another title, in what would mark an emotional victory; he now calls Switzerland home and intends to donate all of this week’s prize money to Fondation Beloved, the charity supporting those directly impacted by the New Year’s Day tragedy in Crans-Montana.
Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner and Erik Van Rooyen will be among those chasing, after rounds of 63 moved them into a share of second, alongside Spanish duo Eugenio Chacarra and Nacho Elvira at 13 under par.
View this post on Instagram
Steinlechner went bogey-free in his quest to claim his maiden title on golf’s Global Tour, picking up five birdies on his front nine and another two on the back, while Van Rooyen mixed nine birdies with a pair of bogeys to match.
View this post on Instagram
Chacarra and Elvira later joined them, their respective rounds of 65 and 68 enough to keep them in the hunt of another victory on the 2026 Race to Dubai.
Compatriot Angel Ayora carded a 66 to finish in outright sixth at 12 under, while Italy’s Francesco Laporta, England’s Todd Clements and Japan’s Keita Nakajima are a further shot back in seventh.
View this post on Instagram
Representing on home soil, Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach finished the day in a share of tenth at ten under par.
Player quotes:
Paul Casey: There was so much (to enjoy), maybe saving some of them pars coming in late, but birdie on 18 though, that was the highlight of the day with the great Swiss crowd. I love this place, I really do, so it’s a wonderful day,
I’m 49 now, so I’m not sure how good everything is. There’s ailments, for sure. Yes, there was a wrist problem earlier in the year, but I bounced back from that and actually play some really good golf when we went to New York a few weeks after, but I wasn’t sure, I mean, thought that could have been the season.
View this post on Instagram
There’s always stuff. I think everybody out here’s got stuff going on, but I honestly feel really good and I feel somewhat fresh, probably because I haven’t played that much golf because I’ve missed a bit. It’s obviously good enough to shoot some good scores so I’m happy with it.
This is now home. I now live in Switzerland, so it would have made an awful lot. It feels like it feels like a home week for me. And tomorrow, whatever happens, I hope I win and I’ll be playing really hard, but I’ll make sure that all my prize money as well is going to the charity and the victims of the fire here in Crans-Montana, so I’ve got a lot to play for tomorrow.
