Thriston Lawrence wins European Masters in playoff over Paul Casey

European Masters, final leaderboard

-18 P Casey (Eng), T Lawrence*; -17 H Hall; -16 F Laporta (Ita), A Ayora (Spa), A Hidalgo (Spa), B Wiesberger (Aut), E Lopez-Chacarra (Spa)

Selected others: -15 M Wallace (Eng); -14 R Hoejgaard (Den), P Reed (US); -13 T Clements (Eng); -11 M Penge (Eng); -9 C Hill (Sco), S Garcia (Spa)

*= Won at fourth play-off hole

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Paul Casey was beaten by South Africa's defending champion Thriston Lawrence on the fourth play-off hole at the European Masters in Switzerland.

The tournament was played at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Crans-Montana, and Casey had pledged to donate his entire winnings to the victims of the New Year's Eve fire that killed 40 people in the Swiss mountain resort.

The 49-year-old Englishman missed four putts for the first prize of $637,500 (£469,112) - the first on his final hole in regulation and the next three on the first three play-off holes.

But after firing his approach to the back edge of the green at the fourth play-off hole, the former Ryder Cup player missed a chip and Lawrence sank his birdie putt to win the tournament for the third time - equalling the record of Seve Ballesteros.

Casey fired a two-under-par 68 in his final round to finish level on 18 under, with Lawrence forcing a play-off thanks to a stunning 62.

The LIV player was aiming for his 16th win on the DP World Tour and first since he claimed the Dubai Desert Classic in January 2021, but after finishing just short will now donate the runners-up prize of $412,500 (£303,543) to the Fondation Beloved, external.

England's Harry Hall finished third on 17 under after his closing 63.

"It's probably the most emotion I have ever shown in a happy way," said Lawrence, who hit eight birdies in a bogey-free round to set the clubhouse lead on 18 under.

"I fought so hard and just gave it my everything. 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."

Casey started the day six shots ahead of Lawrence, but struggled to rekindle the form that saw him hit 64 and 63 in his second and third rounds.

The LIV golfer dropped shots on three of his opening eight holes, including a double bogey six on the sixth.

Casey was two over for the day after a bogey on the eighth, but then picked up five birdies in the next seven holes to reclaim the lead.

The world number 707 made it up and down from a greenside bunker to save par on the 16th, then narrowly missed another birdie putt on the 17th to leave himself needing a par on the last for victory.

But he was unable to navigate the par four 18th safely after finding thick rough from the tee. Casey bounced his approach off a rock and over a stream into the rough guarding the green and after a poor chip shot missed a 20-foot putt for victory.

The difficult 18th hole was chosen for the play-off.

Both golfers made pars in their first two attempts, with Casey missing a 10-foot birdie putt to win on the second play-off hole.

Tournament organisers changed the pin position for the third play-off hole in an attempt to separate the two, but again they both made pars, with Casey seeing his eight-foot putt for the championship hit the cup and roll out.

And Lawrence finally punished his opponent on the fourth play-off hole.