Omega European Masters 2021: Course and current form stats for the trip to Crans-sur-Sierre

One of the longest-running tournaments on the European Tour schedule takes place in Switzerland this week, following a one-year absence due to Covid.

The Omega European Masters, which was formerly called the Swiss Open, has been running for more than 90 years, and has crowned many great golfers down the decades.

Major winners such as Bobby Locke, Bob Charles, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Price, Nick Faldo, Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal and Ian Woosnam have all triumphed at Crans-sur-Sierre, which has hosted this tournament since 1939.

The Swiss Open title itself goes back even further to 1923, with Crans-sur-Sierre enjoying the honour as the most visited venue in European Tour history.

Dramatic views

Located in the Swiss Alps, around 120 miles east of Geneva and a similar distance south of Berne, Crans-sur-Sierre is one of the most photogenic courses in professional golf.

It was opened in 1908, and has been renovated twice, most recently by the late Seve Ballesteros 22 years ago.

The course sits more than 4,000 feet above sea level, so the ball travels around 10% further than normal through this rarefied air.

Because of this, Crans-sur-Sierre is one of the shorter venues on Tour and since 2009 the average winning 72-hole total here is 264.1.

This converts to more than 17 under par (the total par was reduced from 71 to 70 in 2014).

Latest betting for Crans-sur-Sierre

With its reasonably small putting surfaces, and steep surrounding slopes, much of the emphasis at Crans is on accuracy.

The tree-lined fairways have many severe slopes - both uphill and downhill - while over the past dozen years the number of water hazards on the course has increased to six.

These all exist on the back nine, with three being added during the winter of 2012-13.

It's important to avoid the many damaging slopes which can sweep the ball into tricky spots, sometimes oblivion, if the drive or approach is a little wayward.

The key to success at Crans is to hit plenty of greens in regulation, and have a pretty solid scrambling game too. Good course management is paramount.

On the tee

Compared to the majority of European Tour events post-lockdown, this week's field is certainly better than most, even if it's nowhere near as strong as in previous years.

If accuracy from tee-to-green is going to be especially important this week then players such as Martin Kaymer could rise to the top in the Alps.

The 36-year-old German and two-time major winner hasn't triumphed since the 2014 US Open, but has stood on the podium nine-times since then.

He's performed well in central Europe this season, posting a brace of top-three finishes in Germany and Austria. He also finished second at Crans-sur-Sierre 10 years ago next month.

Continuing on the theme of accuracy, then Sam Horsfield, Bernd Wiesberger and Sean Crocker appear to have the tools to perform well this weekend.

All three are inside the top 10 for each of the following three European Tour categories Greens in Regulation; Strokes Gained: Tee To Green; and Strokes Gained: Approach.

Crocker was tied-for-second in Prague on Sunday, while Wiesberger tasted victory in Denmark back in May.

Horsfield, meanwhile, has shown plenty of consistency this year, with five top-10s from his last 14 European Tour starts.

Justin Harding returns to action following a break of four weeks. The South African has been in good form this season, and in his most recent two outings posted finishes of second and seventh.

Harding is yet to compete at Crans, although a lack of course experience didn't prevent Sebastian Soderberg from winning on his tournament debut two years ago.

Uncertain starter

One golfer whose participation is in doubt is Erik Van Rooyen. The South African is currently involved in the weather-delayed Northern Trust in New Jersey.

After 54 holes at Liberty National, he is just one stroke off the pace and looks well placed to qualify for the second play-off event on the PGA Tour.

And even if he doesn't, will Van Rooyen be able to dash back across the Atlantic in time to tee-up in Switzerland?

As yet, his name is still among the entries for Crans-sur-Sierre.

Twitter: Andy Swales@GolfStatsAlive

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves