Long-term Omega European Masters loyalists Brett Rumford and Darren Clarke will once again take to the Severiano Ballesteros Championship Course from September 5-8, 2013.
Australian Rumford, who won in Crans-Montana in 2007, has not missed a single Omega European Masters since turning professional in 2000 and has made a flying start to his 2013 campaign with two victories already.
The 35 year old recorded superb back-to-back triumphs when he won the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul, South Korea at the end of April and the Volvo China Open in Tianjin the following week.
With nearly €1m in prize money already accrued this season, the five-time winner on The European Tour currently holds seventh place in The 2013 Race to Dubai and his current excellent form plus his great experience make Rumford a serious candidate for victory when the historic tournament commences in September.
Northern Irishman Clarke, meanwhile, has an impressive and well-documented career track record that comprises 14 wins on The European Tour, the pinnacles of which include The 2011 Open Championship and the WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship in 2000, five consecutive appearances for Europe in The Ryder Cup (1997-2006) and total earnings of €20m.
However, after 14 attempts, the 44 year old Portrush man has not yet managed to add the Omega European Masters to his long list of victories, despite finishing third on two occasions in 1998 and 2000.
Clarke, then, will be returning to Crans-Montana doubly determined to this year finally try on the famous red jacket.
Scotland’s Richie Ramsay cruised to victory last year with a masterful performance at Crans-sur-Sierre, carding six birdies in a bogey free third round to secure his second European Tour title in convincing fashion courtesy of a 66 that lifted him to 16 under.
