Thomas Björn wins Omega European Masters

Denmark's Thomas Björn came through a playoff against Craig Lee of Scotland to win the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.

Thomas Bjorn wins Omega European Masters (Getty Images)

Denmark's Thomas Björn came through a playoff against Craig Lee of Scotland to win the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.

Björn sealed his 14th career European Tour victory with a birdie at the first extra hole. It was his second win in this event after he came out on top two seasons ago.

"It was nice," he said. "I had a really good run through the summer and did not really get close enough. I had to grit my teeth for a while and I really wanted to get out and try to win a golf tournament again."

Björn looked to be in control during the final round as he cruised to the turn in just 31 stokes. Lee wasn't to be dismissed so easily, however. The Scot, who had shot a superb 61 in the third round, struck back with birdies at the 12th, 15th and 16th holes. He had a chance to win the event outright on the 72nd green, but his birdie effort lipped out of the cup.

Lee signed for a 67 and a four-round total of 20-under-par to match the number already set by Björn.

The pair returned to the 18th tee from where Lee found a fairway bunker, while Björn struck his drive into the centre of the fairway. Lee played an excellent recovery shot to find the green and Björn also hit a fine approach to set up a birdie chance.

Lee went first and narrowly missed his attempt from some 20 feet. That left Björn with a chance to win from around 12 feet and he grabbed it with both hands, confidently rolling the putt home.

"It was nice to do that in a playoff," he said. "I've had a hard time dealing with pressure situations and there is no more pressure than that."

Victor Dubuisson of France holed a good putt on the 72nd green to secure third place on his own, one clear of Spain's Alejandro Canizares.

England's Ross Fisher made a welcome return to the top-10, finishing in a tie for fifth with veteran Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Omega European Masters Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland Sep 5-8, purse €2,200,000, par 71

1   Thomas Björn (Den)   66   66   67   65   264   €366,660 2   Craig Lee (Sco)      71   65   61   67   264   €244,440 3   Victor Dubuisson (Fra)   68   65   66   66   265   €137,720 4   Alejandro Canizares (Esp) 69   65   65   67   266   €110,000 T5   Ross Fisher (Eng)      71   69   63   66   269   €85,140 T5   Miguel Angel Jimenez (Esp) 65 68   69   67   269   €85,140 T7   Gregory Havret (Fra)   68   69   70   63   270   €60,500 T7   Brooks Koepka (USA)   68   66   69   67   270   €60,500 T9   Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 65   68   69   70   272   €44,587 T9   Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 67   65   72   68   272   €44,587 T9   Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)   68   69   70   65   272   €44,587

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?