With the FedEx Cup wrapping up last weekend, attention now shifts back to Europe as the DP World Tour enters the closing stretch of its season. This week, the spotlight falls on the Swiss Alps, where players will contest the prestigious Omega European Masters. We’ll break down the tournament from a betting perspective and highlight a few value plays to consider.
Course
The Severiano Ballesteros Course at Crans-sur-Sierre is regarded as one of the most picturesque venues in world golf. Nestled high in the Swiss Alps, it offers breathtaking mountain backdrops that make it a standout stop on the DP World Tour. Despite its beauty, the layout presents a stern challenge. The course plays to a par 70 and measures just over 6,800 yards (6,220 metres), making it one of the shortest venues on the schedule. However, its altitude of more than 4,000 feet (1,220 metres) means the ball flies further, which brings distance control firmly into play.
The design features tight, tree-lined fairways that demand accuracy off the tee, while the small, contoured greens are well-defended by numerous run-off areas, placing a premium on precise iron play and a sharp short game. Elevation changes throughout the layout test players’ ability to judge both distance and trajectory, ensuring that strategy and course management are crucial all week.
The Omega European Masters has been staged at Crans-sur-Sierre since 1939, making it one of the longest-running events on the DP World Tour calendar. Over the decades, the event has been won by some of the sport’s biggest names. Seve Ballesteros claimed three titles here, while more recently players like Sergio García, Rory McIlroy, and Matt Fitzpatrick have all featured strongly, with Fitzpatrick securing back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018. This history of elite champions underscores just how demanding and prestigious this tournament is.
Past Winners
2024 Matt Wallace (England) -11 Playoff
2023 Ludvig Aberg (Sweden) -19 2 strokes
2022 Thriston Lawrence (South Africa) -18 Playoff
2021 Rasmus Hojgaard (Denmark) -13 1 stroke
2020 Cancelled due to Covid-19
A number of players who now play primarily on the PGA Tour but began their careers on the DP World Tour have returned to the Alps this week, making the field very competitive. The bookmakers have Matt Fitzpatrick as the favourite at 9.50, given his strong record at Crans-sur-Sierre. Last week’s DP World Tour winner Alex Noren is trading at 11.00, while the in-form Aaron Rai is priced at 15.00.
Betting – Click here to bet
Matt Fitzpatrick 9.50
Alex Noren 11.00
Aaron Rai 15.00
Nicolai Højgaard 17.00
Marco Penge 17.00
Rasmus Højgaard 19.00
SELECTIONS:
Alex Noren at 11.00
Alex Noren is coming off a brilliant victory at last week’s British Masters. Despite finding trouble off the tee on the final hole with a two-shot lead, he scrambled a bogey to close out a one-stroke win. That triumph followed a third-place finish at the Danish Golf Championship and another top ten the week before, highlighting a run of consistently strong performances.
He also boasts solid course form at Crans-sur-Sierre. Over the past 11 years, Noren has posted a win in 2016 and a sixth-place finish in 2018, showing that this track suits his game. His only real blemish in that period was a missed cut in 2019, the last time he played here, but overall his record here is encouraging.
With his current form and a proven ability to tame this course, the Swede looks well placed to challenge again this weekend.
Alex Noren each way at 11.00
Marco Penge at 17.00
Marco Penge has been in outstanding form as he looks to catch the eye of Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and earn a potential captain’s pick. In his last six DP World Tour starts, he has already won the Danish Golf Championship, finished runner-up at the Scottish Open, added another top ten, and recorded an 11th-place finish.
This consistent run of results highlights both confidence and momentum. With Ryder Cup selection looming, Penge will be highly motivated to deliver another strong performance. Coming into the week in such good form, it would be no surprise to see him finish near the top of the leaderboard or even win the tournament and his missed cut last year on debut is best ignored.
Marco Penge each way at 17.00
Matt Wallace at 26.00
Matt Wallace is another player on the brink of Ryder Cup selection who will be eager to prove his worth, and this week gives him the perfect opportunity. He returns to a course where he has already enjoyed plenty of success, arriving as the defending champion after winning the tournament last year. Wallace also finished runner-up in 2022, underlining just how comfortable he is around Crans-sur-Sierre.
With his course record and the added motivation of impressing Luke Donald ahead of the Ryder Cup, Wallace will be determined to make a strong statement once again this weekend. From a betting perspective, it is worth noting that Crans-sur-Sierre has a history of producing repeat contenders and multiple winners, which makes Wallace’s profile even more appealing at this venue.
Matt Wallace each way at 26.00
With all 3 selections towards the top of the betting boards I am going to look for an outsider to add to the staking plan and will add this during the course of the day.
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