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Thriston Lawrence rallies from 6 behind and beats Paul Casey in a playoff in Switzerland

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, pumping his arms when his birdie putt dropped. He became the seventh three-time winner of this event, and the first since Seve Ballesteros. “I just fought so hard today,” Lawrence said. “I feel for Paul. He played great golf. It looked like it was his all day.” Casey started with a three-shot lead and fell behind as Lawrence put on a dynamic charge. Casey regained the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th, saved par with a 15-foot putt on the par-3 16th and came to the 18th with a one-shot lead.
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