Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Noren are looking to follow in the footsteps of the great Seve Ballesteros when they tee it up at this week's Omega European Masters.
The event has been an ever-present on the DP World Tour since the Tour's debut season in 1972 but in that time only the late Ballesteros managed to lift the trophy three times.
Of current active players, Thomas Bjørn is the only other man who can match the feat but with the 2011 and 2013 champion not in the field this week, it is left to Noren and Fitzpatrick to chase history.
Here, we take a look at their record at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club as they look to become the first player since Ballesteros - and seventh overall - to lift the trophy in Switzerland three times.
Alex Noren
A HotelPlanner Tour graduate in 2006, Noren had already established himself on Tour when he arrived in Crans-Montana in 2009, having one made and one missed cut so far in his previous two appearances at the event.
Opening rounds of 65-70 represented a steady start from the Swede and when he carded a third-round 63, he took a two-shot lead into the final round.
Bradley Dredge was level with him after pitching in at the par-five ninth from 63 yards but Noren - who had seen his season so far plagued by wrist and knee injuries - produced his own moment of magic as he holed a bunker shot on the 15th for eagle en route to a 66, a 20 under total and a two-shot win.
"I was so happy when that bunker shot went in," said Noren following what was his maiden DP World Tour victory. "I've never felt this good about my game, and to win was just brilliant."
Noren missed the cut on his defence but finished in the top ten in 2011 and top 30 in 2012, with his next appearance coming in 2016.
He once again showed he could go low with a second-round 63 abd ked by two on Sunday after a run of four birdies from the sixth but third-round leader Scott Hend reeled him in as they went to a play-off at 17 under.
On the first trip back up the last. Noren hit a wonderful tee-shot and an approach to 30 feet as Hend saw his first bounce out of the trees on the left and then only just cleared the water with his second.
The Australian chipped to eight feet but Noren holed his putt for the birdie and the win.
"It feels amazing to be among Seve Ballesteros and Thomas Bjørn to win two Omega European Masters titles," said Noren. "I've seen the boards showing who won multiple Omega European Masters titles walking to the course so it is great."
Noren's victory was his second of the season and part of a run of four in just over four months as he finished third on the Race to Dubai.
He achieved a top ten in his title defence before missing the cut in 2019 and this week makes his first appearance at the event in six years, on the back of ending a seven-year wait for his 11th DP World Tour title at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick was not even a full DP World Tour member when he missed the cut in his Omega European Masters debut in 2014 but over the following four editions he would prove himself to be an expert in the clouds.
In 2015 he entered the final round in a tie for the lead with countryman and fellow Sheffielder Danny Willett but was edged into second place as Willett fired a bogey-free closing 65 to Fitzpatrick's 66.
After rounds of 67-65-70 in a weather-affected week, Fitzpatrick entered the final round four shots behind Hend but led by two after 16 holes before the Australian took the event to a play-off for the second consecutive year.
He would suffer the same fate as well, missing a six-footer for victory on the second extra hole and allowing Fitzpatrick to take victory with a par on the next.
"I'm delighted," said Fitzpatrick after claiming his fourth DP World Tour win. "It's one that I've always wanted to win. I love playing this golf course, from the first ever year I came as an invite in 2014 it's one that has really stood out on my schedule and I always want to come back and play."
The following year he would claim win number five in Crans-Montana and once again it would require extra holes.
The Yokshireman had gone 69-64-63 to lead by two heading into the final day and was four ahead of Lucas Bjerregaard but the Dane carded a brilliant 63 to set the target at 17 under.
Fitzpatrick needed a birdie on the last to take it to extra holes and then put his approach to 12 feet on the first trip back up the 18th, with another birdie seeing him become the first player since Ballesteros in 1978 to go back-to-back at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
“This is what I wanted to achieve this season - another win,” he said. “To get it here again is so special and to get my fifth is amazing. I love this place.
“Of all my wins I'd say that was definitely the most difficult. I didn't have my A game today, despite loving this place I just didn't play my best today. I managed to grind it out, made some crucial birdies coming in and I'm delighted. This is one of my best."
Fitzpatrick would finish in a tie for 69th in 2019 and a tie for third in 2023 before registering a top 30 last season.
