Golfer Paul Casey makes emotional charity vow at Omega European Masters

Paul Casey is set to donate over £300,000 to charity after his second place finish at the Omega European Masters.

The former world No.3 narrowly missed out on a first professional win for over five years in Switzerland.

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Casey, who held a three-shot lead going into the final round, was beaten in a play-off by South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.

However, the Englishman is still set to make a sizeable donation to charity after his performance at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Casey’s charity promise

The 49-year-old vowed to donate all of his prize money to the victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire following his third round on Saturday.

This weekend’s DP World Tour event was being played in the same Swiss ski resort as the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 41 people.

A further 115 people were injured in the fire at the Le Constellation bar on December 31.

Speaking after surging to the top of the leaderboard, Casey explained: “I love this place. I really do, so it was a wonderful day.
“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.”

The Cheltenham-born golfer now lives in Switzerland, where the Omega European Masters has been held since 1923.

A seven-under par third round had seen Casey establish his advantage going into Sunday thanks to eight birdies.

He had been aiming to win his 22nd professional event and his first since the 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

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Play-off agony for Casey

However, an eight-under final round from Lawrence saw the pair end the weekend level on -18 after Casey finished two-under for the day.

The subsequent play-off saw nothing between the duo through the first three holes.

A birdie from Lawrence on the fourth play-off hole was enough to clinch victory.

Speaking afterwards, he admitted: “It’s crazy. That’s probably the most emotion I’ve ever shown, in a happy way. Normally I cry.

“I can’t believe it, but I just fought so hard today. I just gave it my everything.”

In picking up his third European Masters win, Lawrence will also take home £470,000 from the £2.76million prize fund.

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Meanwhile, Casey is set to donate his £304,000 winnings to the victims of the bar fire.

Lawrence added: “I feel for Paul. He played great golf and it looked like it was his all day. Even in the play-off, he missed a couple of short ones, but it’s just the best feeling in the world.”