Paul Casey, visibly moved, announced that he will donate every cent of his earnings from the Omega European Masters to the victims of the tragic bar fire in Crans-Montana. The English golfer surged into the tournament’s lead on Saturday, posting a spectacular round that put him three strokes ahead of a tightly packed field.
In his third round, Casey carded a seven‑under‑par 63, highlighted by eight birdies and a dramatic finish on the 18th hole that delighted the spectators. His performance created a three‑shot cushion over Austria’s Maximilian Steinlechner, South Africa’s Erik van Rooij, and the Spanish pair Nacho Elvira and Eugenio Chacarra, who all shared the next best score. The tournament is being contested at the Crans‑sur‑Sierre Golf Club, situated in the same region of Switzerland where a devastating fire ripped through a local bar in the early hours of New Year’s Day, claiming 41 lives and injuring 115 more. The tragedy has cast a somber shadow over the event, and Casey’s heartfelt promise adds a poignant human element to the competition.
When asked what a victory on Sunday would mean to him, the 49‑year‑old, who now calls Switzerland home, struggled to hold back tears. “I love this place. I really do, so it was a wonderful day,” he said, his voice trembling. “This is now home.
I now live in Switzerland, so it would mean an awful lot. It feels like a home week for me. And tomorrow, whatever happens, and I hope I win, and I’ll be playing really hard, but I’ll make sure that all my prize money 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.” Casey’s 63 on Saturday followed a 64 on Friday and a 67 on Thursday, a string of low scores that have propelled the former world No. 3 back into contention after a five‑and‑a‑half‑year drought on the DP World Tour. He had not won on the tour since his move to LIV Golf in 2022, making his recent surge all the more significant.
The Saturday round was anchored by six birdies on the front nine. A solitary bogey on the 14th was the only blemish, but Casey quickly recovered with birdies on the 15th and the 18th, extending his lead to three strokes.
Despite a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from a LIV event in Korea earlier in the year, he has managed to stay competitive, citing a limited schedule as a factor that keeps him fresh and ready for a final‑day push. “I’m 49 now, so I’m not sure how good everything is. There are ailments for sure,” Casey admitted.
“Yes, there was a wrist problem earlier in the year, but I bounced back from that and actually played some really good golf when we went to New York a few weeks after. I thought that could have been the season. 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 as I missed a bit. It’s obviously good enough to shoot some good scores, so I’m happy with it.” The field behind Casey remains tightly packed. Van Rooij and Steinlechner both matched his seven‑under‑par round, joining Elvira and Chacarra three shots back.
Another Spaniard, Angel Ayora, sits at –12, a single stroke further behind the leader. England’s Todd Clements, at –11, shares seventh place with Francesco Laporta and Keita Nakajima. A broader group of 14 players sit at –10, including England’s Danny Willett, Matt Wallace, and Harry Hall, as well as former LIV competitor Patrick Reed, who rejoined the DP World Tour earlier this year.
Friday’s leader, Thriston Lawrence, fell back into the –10 cluster after a disappointing three‑over‑par round on Saturday, illustrating how quickly fortunes can change in a tournament of this caliber. The final round will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 11 a.m.
on Sunday, with streaming options available through NOW for viewers who prefer an ad‑free experience. Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to explore the 1,700‑course network across the UK and Ireland, where they can book tee times and enjoy the sport at a range of venues. Casey’s pledge underscores the deep connection many athletes feel to the communities that host their events.
By directing his winnings to the fire victims, he not only aims to provide financial relief but also to honor the resilience of the people of Crans‑Montana. Whether he captures the trophy on Sunday or not, his gesture will likely resonate long after the final putt drops, reminding fans that sport can serve as a powerful platform for compassion and charitable action.