LIV Golf's Paul Casey makes emotional prize money pledge at Omega European Masters
Paul Casey will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.
Paul Casey has pledged to donate all of his prize money from the Omega European Masters to help those affected by the New Year's Day fire in Crans-Montana.
The fire broke out at around 1:30am on 1 January at Le Constellation bar in the Swiss Alpine resort, where people had gathered to celebrate the New Year. The blaze killed 40 people and injured more than 100 others.
Italian teenage golfer Emanuele Galeppini was among those killed in the fire.
Casey tore round Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club on Saturday, carding a superb 7-under 63 to reach 16-under par.
Position | Player | To Par |
|---|---|---|
1 | Paul Casey | -16 |
2 | Erik van Rooyen | -13 |
2 | Maximilian Steinlechner | -13 |
2 | Nacho Elvira | -13 |
2 | Eugenio Chacarra | -13 |
6 | Angel Ayora | -12 |
7 | Francesco Laporta | -11 |
7 | Todd Clements | -11 |
7 | Keita Nakajima | -11 |
10 | Bernd Wiesberger | -10 |
10 | Danny Willett | -10 |
10 | Romain Langasque | -10 |
10 | Rasmus Højgaard | -10 |
10 | Matt Wallace | -10 |
10 | Antoine Rozner | -10 |
10 | Patrick Reed | -10 |
10 | Angel Hidalgo | -10 |
10 | Harry Hall | -10 |
10 | David Puig | -10 |
10 | Joakim Lagergren | -10 |
10 | Joel Girrbach | -10 |
10 | Thriston Lawrence | -10 |
10 | Rafa Cabrera Bello | -10 |
The LIV Golf recruit leads by three shots from a group of four players that includes the in-form Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra and South Africa's Erik van Rooyen.
Casey's compatriot Matt Wallace and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed are also inside the top-10.
"There was so much (to enjoy)," a visibly emotional Casey told Sky Sports' Josh Antmann when asked for his highlight of the day.
Casey began the day with two consecutive pars before playing the 3rd to the 9th in 6-under.
Four more pars followed from the 10th before he dropped his first shot of the day at the par-5 14th after he found the water with his second shot.
He bounced back with a birdie and signed off with another at the last.
"That was the highlight of the day with the great Swiss crowd," he added.
"I love this place, I really do, so it's a wonderful day.
"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."
Casey is playing this week's DP World Tour event on an invitation from the tournament sponsor.
He joined LIV Golf in 2022 and linked up with Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers side.
Victory on Sunday would represent his first win since the 2021 Dubai Desert Classic.
"I'm 49 now, so I'm not sure how good everything is," he added when asked if he is fully fit and healthy.
"There's ailments, for sure. Yes, there was a wrist problem earlier in the year, but I bounced back from that and actually play some really good golf when we went to New York a few weeks after, but I wasn't sure, I mean, thought that could have been the season.
"There's always stuff. I think everybody out here's got stuff going on, but 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."
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