Omega European Masters Preview and Picks

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This is a special week in golf with no PGA Tour event, as there are two weeks before the tour plays in Napa. The week's big event is in Switzerland, which has always had a challenging schedule due to its high altitude and cold temperatures. Now positioned in the first week of September, it's perfectly timed just after the FedEx Cup playoffs. Surprisingly, Matt Fitzpatrick made the 4,000-mile journey from the BMW Championship to play in this event.

Ludvig Aberg, last year's European Masters champion, is not defending his title in Switzerland. Aberg has emerged as a new young star, rising remarkably in both the DP World and PGA tours over the past 15 months. Despite his success, including a 5th place world ranking, Aberg's performance has been inconsistent over the summer, missing cuts at major championships.

The reason for Aberg's inconsistency has finally come to light. After strong performances early in the year, he withdrew from Wells Fargo and struggled at the PGA Championship with a knee brace. Todd Lewis of the Golf Channel revealed that Aberg is undergoing arthroscopic surgery. Aberg plans to take time off to recover before returning to play in Abu Dhabi and the DP World Championship.

The Omega European Masters at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre is one of the most scenic stops in golf. Rivaling the beauty of Pebble Beach, Crans-sur-Sierre offers breathtaking views of the Alps, including the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. The event has been a favorite since the Golf Channel began showing European Tour golf in the late nineties.

The golf course at Crans-sur-Sierre is uniquely situated in the middle of town. The fourth hole is particularly stunning, offering an unparalleled view of the Rhone Valley and the Alps.

The history of golf at Crans-sur-Sierra dates back to 1905 when Arnold Lunn commissioned the first nine holes. The course was completed in 1908 but abandoned during World War I. It was reopened in 1921, and the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club was founded in 1924.

Over the years, the course has undergone several renovations to enhance its challenge and appeal. In 1995, Severiano Ballesteros was commissioned to redesign the course, adding new greens, tee boxes, and obstacles.

A significant renovation project began in 2013, lasting four years and costing nearly six million dollars. Key changes included:

1. Adding water hazards to the 10th, 12th, and 13th holes.

2. Introducing a stream crossing the 17th fairway.

3. Rebuilding fairways at holes 1, 2, and 4.

4. Redesigning the 9th hole with a new, more spacious green.

5. Lengthening the 5th hole by 25 yards.

6. Shortening the 14th hole by 38 yards and reducing the overall par to 70.

These changes have made the course more challenging for professionals while enhancing the spectator experience. The course has remained largely unchanged since the completion of these renovations in 2015.

The Omega European Masters continues to be a highlight of the European Tour calendar, offering a unique combination of challenging golf and stunning alpine scenery that makes it a must-visit destination for golf enthusiasts and professionals alike.

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Secrets to Playing Well at the Omega European Masters

The Omega European Masters is held at Crans-sur-Sierre GC in Crans Montana, Switzerland. The course measures 6,823 yards and plays to a par of 70 (35-35). One key stat for success at this tournament is hitting a high number of greens in regulation (GIR). Over the past 14 years, three winners led this category, while four others finished second. Notably, Ludvig Aberg (2023 champion), David Lipsky (2014), Danny Willett (2015), and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2018) all ranked second in GIR during their winning weeks. Rasmus Hojgaard tied for third in this stat when he won in 2021.

While GIR remains crucial, there have been exceptions. Alex Noren, the 2016 champion, ranked only T-26th in GIR for the tournament week but was 18th on the European Tour for the year. Sebastian Soderberg's 2019 victory came despite ranking T-33rd for the week and 136th on tour for the year in GIR. Thriston Lawrence, the 2022 winner, finished T-11th in GIR for the week and 26th for the year.

The course's length is not a significant factor, as it's one of the shortest on the European Tour at under 6,850 yards. However, accuracy is crucial due to the tight, tree-lined fairways. Interestingly, fairways hit statistics have shown mixed results among top performers in recent years. The course's high altitude (8,000 feet) causes the ball to travel 10-15% further than at sea level, effectively reducing the playing length to about 6,200 yards.

Water hazards come into play on six holes, all on the back nine. The course features significant undulation, and afternoon winds often rise from the valley. Weather can be unpredictable due to the location, with fog sometimes causing issues. This year's forecast predicts rain on Thursday, fair conditions on Friday and Saturday with highs in the mid-60s, and potential thunderstorms on Sunday with temperatures in the low 70s.

Given these varied conditions, a versatile player who can adapt to changing weather and course challenges is likely to perform well. It's worth noting that nine events remain on the schedule before the DP World Tour Championship in mid-November, adding context to the tournament's importance in the overall tour standings.

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the Omega European Masters field is our performance chart listed by average finish. One last way to check who is the best is through a unique formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the Omega European Masters in the last five years, or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the Omega European Masters.

Who to watch for at the Omega European Masters

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