With a history stretching back as far as 1923, the Omega European Masters ranks as one of the most coveted titles on the DP World Tour – taking place in a setting that is matched only in quality by the names etched on the trophy.

Formerly known as the Swiss Open, the event has a permanent home at the iconic Golf Course Crans-Sur-Sierre, high up in the Swiss Alps. Whether it is the luxury hotel, panoramic view from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, or even out of respect to main sponsor Omega, the tournament tends to attract a strong field of the DP World Tour’s elite and rising players each year.

Unsurprisingly for a tournament of this stature, there is also a healthy purse of over $3-million on offer, plus 5 000 Race to Dubai points are also up for grabs, making it a significant event on the DP World Tour calendar. 

In previous editions, the Omega European Masters has proved to be a key tournament in the final stages of Ryder Cup qualification, with valuable points on offer for those jostling for the final few spots in the European Team. While there will be no Ryder Cup points this year, the tournament does serve as a last chance to impress Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald – as Ludvig Aberg did in 2023, when his victory here earned the Swede a wildcard pick to the European Ryder Cup team.

The Omega European Masters – and the Swiss Open before then – has been a very happy hunting ground for Southern African golfers over the years. Thriston Lawrence was the last South African winner, lifting the title in 2022 after beating Matt Wallace in a playoff to claim his second career title. Wallace went one better last year, this time making a birdie on the first extra hole to edge Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia in a playoff to secure his fifth DP World Tour title.

BEST SA FINISHERS

(Last 10 stagings)

2024: Casey Jarvis (T8th)

2023: Oliver Bekker and Erik van Rooyen (T8th)

2022:Thriston Lawrence (1st) and Louis de Jager (T9th)

2021: Darren Fichardt and Daniel van Tonder (T21st)

2019: Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (T12th)

2018: Darren Fichardt and Charl Schwartzel (T8th)

2017: Darren Fichardt (T6th)

2016: George Coetzee (T18th)

2015: Jbe Kruger (71st)

2014: Hennie Otto (61st)

Before Lawrence’s victory, other Southern African champions include Ernie Els (2003), Jeff Hawkes (1991), Nick Price (1980), Hugh Baiocchi (1979 and 1973), Dale Hayes (1975), Harold Henning (1965, 1964 and 1960) and Bobby Locke (1954).

Other heralded champions include former world No 1s Lee Westwood, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros (three times) and Luke Donald, and Major winners José María Olazábal, Matt Fitzpatrick (twice), Sergio Garcia, Craig Stadler, Bob Charles (twice) and Kel Nagle.

Fitzpatrick, a back-to-back winner in 2017 and 2018, returns this year, attempting to join Ballesteros and Henning as the only three-time champions of the four-round event. He will be joined by defending champion Wallace, Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Højgaard, former Masters winner Danny Willett and the evergreen Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

Ballesteros’ legacy here extends well past his hat-trick of titles. The Spaniard designed the golf course and it proudly carries his name. At 1 500m above sea level, players are able to hit the ball prodigious distances, and even with the course being reduced to a par of 70, the scores for the week tend to be low, with plenty of birdies on offer for the world’s best golfers.

JEAN CHRISTOPHE BOTT/VALENTIN FLAURAUD/EPA/BACKPAGE IMAGES/OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS/DP WORLD TOUR