The second event of the DP World Tour's 'Back 9' swing takes place at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland with this week's European Masters.
One of the most spectacular venues on the circuit with the Crans Montana mountain range constantly in view, this course sits nearly 5,000 feet above sea level and plays shorter than its yardage of 6,830.
Distance control on approach and the ability to get up and down will be crucial to success this week, with these small greens shaped like upturned saucers providing a big test.
Matt Wallace, the 2024 champion, and American Ryan Gerard have been installed as the joint 14/1 favourites to lift the trophy, ahead of 18/1 Rasmus Hojgaard, who won this event in 2021.
European Masters Tips Summary
Best Bet - Eugenio Chacarra to win and each-way @ 22/1
Alternative Bet - Bernd Wiesberger to win and each-way @ 60/1
Alternative Bet - Kota Kaneko to win and each-way @ 90/1
European Masters Prediction
Best Bet: Eugenio Chacarra to win and each-way @ 22/1
Eugenio Chacarra has been one of the form players on the DP World Tour this season and he sits third in the Race to Dubai standings heading into this Switzerland test.
The Spaniard, who broke his DP World Tour duck at the 2025 Hero Indian Open, won the KLM Open in June this year before lifting the Italian Open trophy on his next start a couple of weeks later.
His form dipped in the next four outings, with a tie for 46th place at the Open his best result, but the 26-year-old has shown positive signs in recent weeks.
Chacarra was tied 30th at the Nexo Championship in Scotland before claiming a share of 21st place at the weather-affected British Masters at the Belfry last week.
The world number 64 appears to be on the up and his sharp irons, which have him ranked 12th in strokes gained approach and 18th in greens in regulation, can aid his cause in Switzerland.
Sitting 11th in strokes gained tee to green and 34th in scrambling, Chacarra has the skillset to land his third win of the season.
Alternative Bet: Bernd Wiesberger to win and each-way @ 60/1
Another player to watch out for this week is Bernd Wiesberger, who came close to winning this title in 2021 when runner-up and was also tied sixth in 2012.
The 40-year-old thrives at courses that require solid course management and favour accuracy over power, evidenced by his tied-fourth effort at the Austrian Alpine Open in May, which is played at a course eight yards shorter than Crans-sur-Sierre GC.
Ranking 32nd in driving accuracy and 29th in greens in regulation, Wiesberger is reliable from tee to green, although his position of second in strokes gained around the green and 26th in scrambling shows how adept his short game is.
Wiesberger ended a long trophy drought at the China Open in April, beating Adrian Otaegui by three shots, and the Austrian can challenge once again.
Alternative Bet: Kota Kaneko to win and each-way @ 90/1
Kota Kaneko landed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Austrian Alpine Open, holding off Davis Bryant and Ricardo Gouveia to win by two strokes, and he is one to watch at a similar type of course.
The Japanese is one of the best putters on tour, ranking third in strokes gained and ninth in putts per round, while his scrambling position of eighth highlights his ability to get up and down.
Sitting eighth in driving accuracy, Kaneko is reliable off the tee and if he can find any improvement with the irons, he is one to watch at big odds.
Key Tournament Stats
The European Masters has been staged every year since the European Tour, now known as the DP World Tour, was created in 1972, except in 2020 when it was cancelled.
Founded as the Swiss Open in 1923, this tournament has been held at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland since 1939.
A par 70 measuring 6,830 yards, this course sits at an altitude of nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, with the ball travelling roughly 10 to 15 per cent further
There are 10 par-fours, three par-fives and five par-threes
South African Thriston Lawrence won this title for the second time last year with a tournament aggregate record score of 258
A play-off has been required to determine the winner in eight of the last 12 editions
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
