Posted27 Aug 2021, 07:50
“Tee Time”, our special Omega European Masters Chronicle from Crans-Montana, looks back on the first day of the Valais tournament.
- through
- Jerome Reynard
(Crans-Montana)
The number: 60
This is the score achieved Thursday morning by the Englishman James Morrison, who took advantage with a start at 7.40 am of perfect conditions – without wind and on receptive greens because softer – to make the best card in the history of the tournament ( 60, or -10) and take the lead alone. In total: nine birdies (-1), an eagle (-2) and a bogey (+1). Solid.
«It’s funny, after my bogey on the 18, my ninth hole because I started from the 10, I went on with a birdie on the 1, which is probably the most difficult hole on the course (editor’s note: a par 4 of 494 meters). My cart told me: «Come on, we can score 59 here.» I had eight holes left to play and I used that as a boost to keep moving forward.»
James Morrison will line up five birdies on his last eight holes. Will he keep pace from the second round on Friday? Many doubt it.
The phrase
“Even if I had the right to bet in tournaments, I would not bet five euros on me”
It is signed Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium), author of an excellent 65 (-5) which places him in sixth provisional rank. «I had no expectations when I got here. I think I’ve only played three or four times in the past four weeks. I was relaxed, detached, and maybe that’s what allowed me to score well.» Like golf, what.
The mishap
That lived by Danny Willett, winner of the European Masters in 2015. On a lost tee shot at 18, the Englishman’s ball got stuck in a tree. As the player could not formally identify it from the ground as being his ball, he had to declare it lost and start again without penalty.
Enough to finish on a double bogey (+2), following a bogey (+1) on 17 and another double bogey on 16, while posting a score of -5 after 15 holes. Did you say infuriating?
Our favorites
Favorite of the bookmakers, the Austrian Bernd Wiesberger is behind by seven points after the first round (-3), but he is in the game, so much can happen from here to Sunday. Among the choices that we suggested to you before the start of the tournament, two players are in the par (Willett, Pieters), a man is at -1 (Bjerregaard), and another returned a card of 65 (-5): the Belgian Thomas Detry.
1 James Morrison (ENG): -10
2 Marcus Armitage (ENG): -7
2 Robin Sciot-Siegrist (FRA): -7
19 Rory Sabbatini (SLO): -3
19 Bernd Wiesberger (AUT): -3
19 Guido Migliosi (ITA): -3
33 Martin Kaymer (GER): -2
33 Victor Perez (FRA): -2
53 Miguel Angel Jiménez (ESP): -1
53 Cédric Gugler (SUI): -1
74 Danny Willett (ENG): Par
96 Henrik Stenson (SWE): +1
111 Francesco Molinari (ITA): +2
124 Raphaël de Sousa (SUI): +3
139 Mathias Eggenberger (SUI): +4
139 Max Schliesing (SUI): +4
156 Mauro Gilardi (SUI): +13
The Swiss corner
After the first round, it is the amateurs who show the way, in the Swiss clan. And more particularly the Zurichois Ronan Kleu (-2) and Cédric Gugler (-1). They are in the best position to cross the Friday night cut, which should be around par or -1. Professionals Raphaël de Sousa (+3) and Mathias Eggenberger (+4) stayed further behind, while stage local Max Schliesing (+4) seemed to be under the pressure at the start of the game.
«Along the route there were friends that I hadn’t seen for a long time. Potential sponsors too. The spectators, I’m not used to that, explained the Zermatt amateur (21 years old) from the University of Houston, who was discovering the European Masters. I was very nervous and it took a few holes for me to feel more confident. But it was a great experience. I tried to make the most of it. From now on, Friday, I hope to score well.»
Ronan Kleu is one of the six Swiss competing in Crans-Montana.
Andy Mueller/freshfocus
Swiss timetables on Friday:
7:40 am (from hole No 1): Raphaël de Sousa (+3)
7:40 am (from hole No 10): Mathias Eggenberger (+4)
9h10 (du trou No 10): Max Schliesing (+4)
9:30 am (from hole No 1): Mauro Gilardi (+13)
9:30 am (from hole No 10): Ronan Kleu (-2)
9.40 a.m. (from hole No 10): Cédric Gugler (-1)
The Rickie Fowler rumor
Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer. Like every year, no headliner goes to a press conference without praising the local charms, at the European Masters. This is because in Crans-Montana, unlike most events in particular across the Atlantic, you can do everything in the same village. Hotel, golf, restaurant, stroll. It’s the perfect place to take your family on the Tour.
And then there is an organization that does everything to stay on top by developing its course every year. The players are far from being insensitive to it and all this contributes to making the Valais meeting attractive, even when the calendar is not entirely favorable to it.
Outside the final set of this 2021 edition, the Englishman Justin Rose (ex-N°1 World, 5 Ryder Cup appearances) a rest was on the verge of joining in the fun, while rumors of the possible arrival of American star Rickie Fowler (5 wins on the American circuit and 4 appearances in the Ryder Cup) roamed the resort a few weeks before the kickoff of the tournament. Anything but harmless.
Rickie Fowler, one of the darlings of the American public.
Getty Images via AFP
