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.
And then the 49-year-old from England appeared to get an enormous break. His shot from the right rough came out heavy. It landed short of the stream and hit a rock that propelled it over the water and into deep rough. But it was a nasty lie and he could only chip out to 20 feet. His par putt to win the tournament caught the left lip.
Casey shot 68 to join Lawrence on 18-under 262.
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.
“It's just the best feeling in the world,” Lawrence said.
Harry Hall of England closed with a 63 and finished alone in third. Patrick Reed (66) tied for 11th, slightly expanding his lead over Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.
McIlroy returns next week at the Irish Open.
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England's Paul Casey in action during the fourth and final round of the European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Sunday Sept. 6, 2026. (Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP)
Thriston Lawrence from South Africa in action during the fourth and final round of the European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Sunday Sept. 6, 2026. (Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP)
Thriston Lawrence from South Africa in action during the fourth and final round of the European Masters Golf Tournament in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Sunday Sept. 6, 2026. (Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in added time to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
The deadline day signing came off the bench to make his debut and curled a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner to salvage a point for his new club.
United twice led at Hill Dickinson Stadium through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who looked to have scored the winner in the 88th. But Everton had an answer on both occasions, with Tyrique George also scoring.
“Everybody wants to start off like that,” Maitland-Niles said. “The ball fell to me on the edge of the box. I put my foot through it, it ended up in the top corner, which I’m happy about.”
It was another setback for United, which has just one win from its opening three games of the season after a loss to Hull and victory against Ipswich.
Defensive frailties cost United again as it conceded two goals for the third game running.
Mbeumo fired United in front straight after halftime with a low shot into the far corner. George lashed in a near-post equalizer in the 83rd, but substitute Sesko headed United back in front.
The visitors were seconds away from three points when the ball broke to Maitland-Niles outside the box in the sixth minute of added time and his first-time shot left United goalkeeper Senne Lammens standing.
“We haven’t started the season that bad. It’s not that bad, we’ve got that close to coming away with three points today, that’s football,” United coach Michael Carrick said. “There are moments we can deal with a bit better, but we’ll be fine.
“We’re bitterly disappointed to be up in the position we were in the game twice, so close to the end.
“All the work that went into putting us in that position at different stages to then come away like that – it’s not a great feeling. It feels like a defeat."
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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Everton's Thierno Barry, left, is tackled by Manchester United's Harry Maguire during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday Sept. 6, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko, right, celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Everton's Tyrique George, hidden, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Everton's Ainsley Maitland-Niles celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Manchester United in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
