CRANS MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Thriston Lawrence of South Africa overcame a six-shot deficit Sunday with an 8-under 62 and denied Paul Casey his first victory in five years by making an 18-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the European Masters.
Casey stood over a putt with the chance to win four times on the 18th green at Crans-sur-Sierre, three of them in the playoff. Lawrence made good on his first chance. He became the seventh three-time winner of this event, and the first since Seve Ballesteros.
Casey (68) led by one going to the 18th and got a huge break when his approach from rough hit a rock and bounced over a stream. But he couldn't get up-and-down for par, leading to the playoff.
Casey had a 35-foot birdie putt for the win on the first playoff hole at No. 18. On the second extra hole, his 10-foot birdie narrowly missed to the right. Officials moved the pin toward the back of the green, and Casey had 8 feet for birdie and the win. That spun off the right edge.
The fourth time around, Lawrence made the winning putt to capture the European Masters for the third time in the last five years.

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