Staff WriterThe Omega European Masters returns to the Swiss Alps this week, and with it comes Matt Wallace, back to defend his crown after last year’s high-altitude drama that ended in a play-off victory over Alfredo Garcia-Heredia.
Wallace, 35, has made Crans-Montana something of a summer holiday home, with a runner-up finish in 2022 and another strong showing in 2023.
His title defence marks the first time the five-time DP World Tour winner has returned to the same course as defending champion—a reminder that golf careers, like Swiss trains, don’t always run on a neat schedule.
“I feel proud. It’s great to be back,” Wallace said. “The weather this morning was fantastic and it was really nice to be back out there and reminiscing about some of the shots… Hopefully I can make that [Ryder Cup] team at least one time in my career.”
Wallace admits recent weeks have been more emotionally draining than physically. The Ryder Cup looms large, and Luke Donald’s September 1 picks hang in the air like the thin mountain breeze.
“I don’t believe I will be able to get a pick but it is out of my control and my hands so we will leave it up to Luke,” he added.
Fitzpatrick chasing Seve’s company
While Wallace battles to prove his case, Major Champion Matt Fitzpatrick rolls into town with a different outlook—high confidence and low expectations, a cocktail that could well deliver him a third win at the Omega European Masters.
The 2017 and 2018 champion arrives for his ninth appearance on the back of a steady run that included a top ten at the Betfred British Masters. His game, he insists, is trending.
“It feels good, it feels like my game has gotten better over the summer… I feel much happier with it and the direction it is going,” Fitzpatrick said. “This tournament, with my history here and the relationship I have with the people, it’s always a special week.”
He’s eyeing history too. Another victory would match Seve Ballesteros’ three titles at Crans-sur-Sierre. “Anytime you are compared to him is always a good thing,” Fitzpatrick grinned.
Noren’s comeback, Ryder Cup shuffle
Then there’s Alex Noren, who finally rediscovered the missing jigsaw piece last week with his first win in over seven years at the British Masters.
The Swede knows this patch of turf well—Crans-sur-Sierre hosted his maiden DP World Tour win in 2009, and he lifted the Omega European Masters trophy in 2016.
This time, he’s hoping for symmetry in reverse: last time he won in Crans, he backed it up six weeks later at the British Masters. Now, he arrives with the Belfry trophy already secured.
With Ryder Cup berths on the line, the week has a gladiatorial edge. Rasmus Højgaard secured automatic qualification with his performance at the British Masters, leaving Wallace, Fitzpatrick, Noren, and fellow Englishmen Marco Penge and Aaron Rai swinging for captain Donald’s attention.
A field fit for the Alps
The international brigade brings extra firepower. Wyndham Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open Champion, is in the field, joined by Patrick Rodgers, Erik van Rooyen, and 11 winners from this season’s Race to Dubai.
Former champions Danny Willett and Miguel Ángel Jiménez add pedigree, while the week will also serve as the swan song for fan-favourite Mike Lorenzo-Vera, who bows out with his 285th and final DP World Tour start.
The mix of Ryder Cup hopefuls, major champions, and legends-in-retirement makes this year’s Omega European Masters a compelling cocktail—served, as ever, against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks and air thin enough to test even the sturdiest set of lungs.
Fitzpatrick summed it up best: “I think the golf course suits my game… I feel pretty comfortable here. That’s the reason why I keep coming back, to try and get that third win and match Seve.”
And so, the Alpine stage is set: Wallace clinging to pride, Fitzpatrick chasing history, Noren reborn, and Donald watching every swing. For a tournament with more switchbacks than the mountain roads around Crans-Montana, this one promises another week of drama at altitude.
