England's Todd Clements found himself just a single stroke behind the tournament leader, Ashun Wu, after delivering a six-under-par 64 in the opening round of the Omega European Masters at the scenic Crans‑Montana course. Clements' round was highlighted by a flurry of six birdies and a spectacular eagle, offset only by two bogeys, a performance that vaulted him into serious contention. He now shares second place with a diverse group of competitors: Germany's Nicolai von Dellingshausen, India's Shubhankar Sharma, Spain's Angel Ahora, and South Africa's Lawrence Thriston, all of whom posted identical scores. Wu, representing China, posted an even more impressive 63, chalking up seven birdies without a single bogey.
The Chinese golfer is eyeing his sixth DP World Tour victory, and his flawless round set a high benchmark for the field. Meanwhile, England's own Harry Hall and Jack Yule remain firmly in the hunt, each sitting just two strokes off the lead after carding a seven‑under‑par 65. Yule, in particular, dazzled spectators with a back‑nine that featured five birdies, underscoring his potential to climb the leaderboard further as the tournament progresses. The English contingent continued to make its presence felt further down the leaderboard.
Dan Bradbury, Paul Casey, and Joshua Berry each posted three‑under‑par 67s, tying for a shared 25th place. Their compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were not far behind, both recording two‑under‑par 68s, just one shot shy of the trio ahead.
This cluster of English players illustrates the depth of talent representing the United Kingdom at this prestigious event. In contrast, Denmark's Rasmus Hojgaard endured a tougher start. After the first round he found himself five strokes back and positioned 42nd on the leaderboard with a two‑under‑par 68. His brother, Nicolai Hojgaard, mirrored the same score, highlighting a shared struggle for the siblings in the opening day's conditions.
The Omega European Masters, part of the DP World Tour schedule for 2026, promises an exciting continuation over the next three days. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, with the first round coverage having begun at 12:30 p.m.
on Thursday. Those without a traditional cable subscription can also stream the tournament via the NOW platform, which offers flexible, contract‑free viewing options. In addition to live coverage, Sky Sports provides a dedicated golf podcast for listeners who want deeper analysis and behind‑the‑scenes commentary.
For golfers looking to experience world‑class courses themselves, the UK and Ireland boast more than 1,700 venues available for booking. Prospective players can search for courses by name, city, or postal code to find the best rates and secure tee times. While the current search returned no results, the platform encourages users to try alternative queries to discover suitable options.
Overall, the first day of the European Masters set the stage for a tightly contested tournament. With Clements perched just a shot behind Wu, and several other contenders within striking distance, the leaderboard is poised for dramatic shifts in the coming rounds. The combination of low scores, strategic play, and the picturesque Alpine backdrop ensures that spectators and participants alike will be treated to high‑quality golf throughout the remainder of the event.