As we continue the build-up to the Omega European Masters, europeantour.com stats guru Steve Doughty picks his five men to watch out for at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club...
Thomas Björn
Crans-sur-Sierre is very often a case of horses for courses, and the best example of this is Thomas Björn, who is the defending champion this week after having also won the tournament in 2011. On both occasions he posted 20 under par, and should he win again he would become just the second player - after Seve Ballesteros (1977-78) - to make a successful defence of the title since the tournament became part of The European Tour in 1972.
Jamie Donaldson
The Welshman, fresh off his win at the D+D Real Czech Masters, will be looking for European Tour victories in consecutive appearances as he looks to continue a fine run of form. He also has a very good recent history in the Swiss event, having been third in 2011 and ninth the following year. He has also only missed one cut all season.
Bradley Dredge
After two consecutive runner-up finishes in his last two starts, at both Made in Denmark and the D+D Real Czech Masters, the Welshman will be hoping to make it third time lucky, and at a venue that in 2006 saw him claim his last European Tour victory. Apart from that triumph, he has also recorded a second place in 2009, he finished third in 2007, as well as fourth in 2002. Very much like Björn, Dredge is further proof of the horse for courses theory.
Victor Dubuisson
Was third here at Crans in 2013, just one shot out of the play-off between Björn and Craig Lee. Two of his last three performances have also produced top ten finishes, with a tie for ninth in The 143rd Open Championship and a share of seventh in his last appearance, the US PGA Championship.
Edoardo Molinari
Will be making his first visit to Crans-sur-Sierre since 2011 when he finished 12th, with the Italian having made a welcome return to form in 2014 after finally returning to full fitness. Although he only finished in a tie for 59th in his home open last week, he did produce his best Major Championship finish at the Open in July, where the Italian tied for seventh. He was also runner-up in the Irish Open earlier in the year, while the last three times he has played in the Omega European Masters he was 12th in 2011, second a year prior, and 14th in 2009, so a first win since the 2010 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles may not be far away this week.
