Casey Seeking To Capture A Second Omega Swiss Crown In Five Years Makes An Emotional Pledge To Crans Nightclub Fire Victims.

49 mins ago by 0

Paul Casey is a proud Englishman but he and his family now call Switzerland home and while primed to capture  forward to capture a second Omege European Masters victory title in just over five years, he’s revealed he intends donating his prize-money to a fund set-up to support those who lost family members in the devestating Crans Montana New Year’s nightclub fire.

The 49-year-old LIV Golfer has 15 DP World Tour titles to his name and is three shots clear of the field heading to the final round as he seeks to make it DPWT number 16 and over five years since capturing win number 15 at the 2021 Swiss tournament high in Crans Montana.

After heading into golf’s traditional ‘moving day’ four back of the lead Casey cut a swath through the field brilliantly grabbing six birdies from the third to ninth holes inclusive ahead of a bogey on 14 but bouncing back with birdies on 15 and 18 in a score of a seven-under 63 to find himself leading by three shots at 16-under.

Casey now lives in Switzerland and revealed he will donate all of his prize money to the Fondation Beloved charity, which helps those affected by the tragic New Year’s Day fire in Crans Montana.

“There was so much to enjoy, maybe saving some of them pars coming in late, but birdie on 18 though, that was the highlight of the day with the great Swiss crowd. I love this place, I really do, so it’s a wonderful day,” the 49-year-old said.

“I honestly feel really good and I feel somewhat fresh, probably because I haven’t played that much golf because I’ve missed a bit.

“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, I hope I win, and I’ll be playing really hard, but I’ll make sure that all my prize money as well 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.”

Overnight leader Thriston Lawrence teed off with a two-shot lead, but after difficulty at the first he found himself with a lengthy par putt.

Nacho Elvira had birdied the opening hole to halve the deficit and when Lawrence could not drain his par effort, he joined the Spaniard at 12 under.

His rollercoaster round continued with a bogey at the third as he sat alongside Elvira and Maximilian Steinlechner, who had rolled in his sixth birdie of the day at the 14th to climb up to 12 under.

However, Casey was making his move and he soon took the lead courtesy of four birdies in five holes from the third.

As a sideligth as Casey was beaten by a 12-year-old in the Beat The Pro challenge at the par-three eighth as his tee-shot landed in the rough just off the green, but he chipped in for another gain and he was two shots clear at 14 under.

He made it four birdies in a row as he finished his front nine in 29, sitting at 15 under with a two-shot advantage.

Steinlechner added another birdie at the 17th and set the clubhouse target at 13 under, with Erik van Rooyen joining him at that mark.

Casey dropped his first shot of the day at the 14th, only to bounce back at the next to return to 15 under. He was rewarded for his patience with a birdie at the last to sign for a stunning 63.

Cards of 63 were the order of the day with Steinlechner flawless in his seven-under round, while Van Rooyen mixed nine birdies with two dropped shots to sit in a share of second at 13 under.

They were joined by Spanish pair Eugenio Chacarra and Elvira, who registered respective third rounds of 65 and 68.

Another Spaniard, Angel Ayora, is one shot further back in solo sixth, while Italy’s Francesco Laporta, Englishman Todd Clements and Japan’s Keita Nakajima are at 11 under.



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