Casey leads for charity.
Paul Casey takes European Masters lead and pledges prize money to fire relief.
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Key Points
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Casey reached the turn in 29 after making six birdies in a seven-hole stretch following two opening pars, then birdied the 18th to complete his 63.
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The charity Casey identified is Fondation Beloved, which supports people affected by the Crans-Montana fire.
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Bernd Wiesberger also shot a 63, including an eagle at the par-five 14th and a bogey-free 30 on the back nine, to climb to 10 under and a tie for 10th.
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Casey’s last victory was the 2021 Dubai Desert Classic; since joining LIV Golf in 2022, he has earned $31.8 million with the Crushers but has not won an individual title, losing twice in playoffs.
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Casey said he had not played much golf because he had “missed a bit,” but nevertheless felt “really good” and “somewhat fresh” ahead of the final round.
Paul Casey fired a scorching 7-under 63 at Crans-sur-Sierre to seize a three-shot lead heading into Sunday's final round of the Omega European Masters. The 49-year-old Englishman sits at 16-under par, chasing his first DP World Tour title since 2021 and his first win since joining LIV Golf in 2022. TalkSport reported that Casey made an emotional pledge: he will donate all prize money from the tournament to Fondation Beloved, a charity supporting victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire that killed 41 people on New Year's Day.
Casey's Scorching Round Puts Him Three Shots Ahead
Casey reached the turn in just 29 strokes, making six birdies in a seven-hole stretch after two opening pars. He added a closing birdie at the 18th to complete his 63. The performance puts him well clear of four players tied for second: Maximilian Steinlechner, Erik van Rooyen, Eugenio Chacarra, and Nacho Elvira. Defending champion Thriston Lawrence stumbled, posting a 3-over 73 to fall back into contention.
Casey's Long Drought Ends With Emotional Victory Push
Casey's last individual title came at the 2021 Dubai Desert Classic. Since joining LIV Golf in 2022, he has earned $31.8 million with the Crushers but has not won a solo event, losing twice in playoffs. The Englishman, who lives in Switzerland, said he felt "really good" and "somewhat fresh" despite missing time with wrist and back problems. A victory Sunday would mark a breakthrough after years of hardware drought.
A Charity Pledge Born From Local Tragedy
Casey became emotional discussing the Crans-Montana community and its New Year's Day fire tragedy. The blaze killed 41 people and injured 115 at a local bar. TalkSport reported that AOL confirmed Casey pledged to donate all his prize winnings—potentially over £300,000—to Fondation Beloved, the charity supporting fire victims. The gesture reflects Casey's deep ties to the Swiss region where he has lived for years.
Wiesberger Climbs With Bogey-Free Back Nine
Bernd Wiesberger matched Casey's 63, including an eagle at the par-five 14th and a flawless 30 on the back nine with no bogeys. Wiesberger climbed to 10-under par and sits in a tie for 10th place. His clean round shows strong scoring is possible at Crans-sur-Sierre, but Casey's three-shot lead and momentum heading into the finale give him the edge heading into Sunday's showdown.
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