Paul Casey, visibly moved, announced that he would give every cent of his winnings to the victims of the tragic bar fire in Crans-Montana after he surged into the front of the DP World Tour's Omega European Masters on Saturday. The English golfer carded an impressive eight birdies, including a dramatic finish on the 18th hole, to finish the third round at seven under par. That score placed him three shots ahead of a tightly packed group that featured Austria's Maximilian Steinlechner, South Africa's Erik van Rooij, and Spaniards Nacho Elvira and Eugenio Chacarra. The tournament is being staged at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, situated in the Swiss region that was shaken by a devastating bar fire on New Year's Day.
The blaze claimed 41 lives and injured 115 more, leaving a deep scar on the local community. Casey, who now calls Switzerland his home, became emotional when asked what a victory on Sunday would mean to him.
"I love this place, I truly do," he said, his voice cracking. "It feels like home to me now. Winning here would mean a great deal, especially after what happened.
If I win tomorrow, I will play my hardest, but I will also make sure that every penny of my prize money goes straight to the charity supporting the fire victims in Crans-Montana. I have a lot at stake tomorrow." His round of 63 on Saturday followed a 64 on Friday and a 67 on Thursday, marking a remarkable three‑day stretch for the former world No. 3.
Casey has not captured a DP World Tour title in more than five years, a drought that began after his move to LIV Golf in 2022. On Saturday he produced six birdies on the front nine, stumbled with a lone bogey on the 14th, then rebounded with birdies at the 15th and 18th to extend his lead to three strokes. Earlier this season, a wrist injury forced him to withdraw from a LIV event in Korea, leading many to fear his season might be over.
Despite not being fully fit, Casey believes his limited schedule has kept him fresh and ready to contend on Sunday. "I'm 49 now, so I know I have to manage my body carefully. I did have a wrist problem earlier in the year, but I recovered quickly and even played well when we went to New York a few weeks later," he explained. "There are always setbacks in a golfer's life, and everyone here is dealing with something.
Personally, I feel good and relatively fresh because I haven't been playing as much as I usually would. That limited play has actually helped me shoot some low scores, and I'm satisfied with where I am." The leaderboard behind Casey remained tightly grouped. Van Rooij and Steinlechner both matched his seven‑under round, joining Elvira and Chacarra three shots back.
Another Spaniard, Angel Ayora, sat at twelve under, just one shot further behind. England's Todd Clements, at eleven under, shared seventh place with Francesco Laporta and Keita Nakajima. A larger pack of fourteen players sat at ten under, including England's Danny Willett, Matt Wallace, Harry Hall, and former LIV player Patrick Reed, who returned to the DP World Tour earlier this year.
Thursday's leader, Thirston Lawrence, fell back into that group after a disappointing three‑over round on Saturday. The final round will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 11 a.m.
on Sunday, and fans can also stream the action via NOW without a contract. For those looking to experience the course themselves, bookings are available at over 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland.
The story of Casey's emotional pledge highlights how sport can bring attention and support to communities in need, turning a personal triumph into a meaningful contribution for those still recovering from the tragedy in Crans‑Montana.