Steve Palmer's free European Masters predictions & golf betting tips

When to bet on the European Masters

By 6.40am on Thursday

Where can I watch the European Masters

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday

Steve Palmer's European Masters predictions

Matt Wallace
4pts each-way 18-1 Paddy Power

Bernd Wiesberger
3.5pts each-way 22-1 Paddy Power

Ryo Hisatsune
2pts each-way 45-1 Paddy Power

Alex Fitzpatrick
2pts each-way 35-1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power

Darius van Driel
1pt each-way 125-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Steve Palmer's European Masters preview

Matt Fitzpatrick bids to make up for a disappointing FedEx Cup campaign by completing a European Masters hat-trick. He was victorious at Crans-sur-Sierre in 2017 and 2018.

Fitzpatrick failed to progress to the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship after struggling to find top gear from the US Open onwards. He injured his right thumb at the Olympics, withdrawing after a third-round 81, then bowed out of the FedEx playoffs after finishing in a tie for 28th spot in the 50-runner BMW Championship.

Steve Palmer's top tip

Matt Wallace 18-1

The comeback of Matt Wallace at The Belfry last week showcased a new-found maturity in the 34-year-old Londoner and he can build on that effort with victory in the European Masters.

Wallace may have lost the plot in the past after a round like his opening 76 full of putting frustration in the British Masters. This time, though, he dusted himself down, refocused, and carded three consecutive rounds of 68 to finish alone in eighth place.

It was solid start to Wallace's bid to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team and he can build on his Belfry fightback by contending at Crans-sur-Sierre, where he lost a playoff in 2022. He closed with a 65 for 24th place last year, underlining his liking for this assignment.

Wallace won six times on the Alps Tour in 2016, with four of those victories coming in countries which border Switzerland, and he loves teeing up in the mountains. He has been producing good golf in PGA Tour company in recent weeks, finishing 24th in the 3M Open and 28th in the Wyndham Championship, and there seems every chance this four-time DPWT champion can become the king of Crans on Sunday.

Next best bet

Bernd Wiesberger 22-1

Austrian ace Bernd Wiesberger is extremely comfortable competing in the Alps and will be relishing this opportunity. He won the 2012 Lyoness Open on the DPWT in his homeland and has won three events on the tour in countries which border Switzerland.

Wiesberger was sixth in the 2012 European Masters at Crans and has built a large bank of course experience through the years, finishing second in 2021. This is his first start there since that near-miss three years ago.

The 38-year-old has returned to the DPWT from the LIV circuit hitting his ball as well as ever. Wiesberger was second in the European Open in June, then seventh in the KLM Open and sixth in the Czech Masters in the middle of last month.

Other selections

Ryo Hisatsune 45-1
Alex Fitzpatrick 35-1
Darius van Driel 125-1

Ryo Hisatsune is a rising star of the game – a seemingly fearless Japanese youngster who has made rapid career strides – and further progress can be expected. He turns 22 next week and may have a new trophy to go with his birthday cake.

Hisatsune turned professional in 2020, winning three times on the Japan Challenge Tour in 2021 and topping that money list. He was seventh at DPWT Qualifying School in 2022, then won the French Open last September before being named DPWT Rookie of the Year. He also earned a PGA Tour card through his Race to Dubai ranking.

Hisatsune's first season on the PGA Tour has yielded five top-20 finishes, including 18th spot in the US PGA, and he finished 84th in the FedEx Cup. Third place in the Wyndham Championship a month ago was another fantastic Stateside performance, underlining his liking for tests of precision. He finished 13th on his Crans debut 12 months ago, enjoying a nine-under-par weekend once he had settled at the venue.

Alex Fitzpatrick is arguably the DPWT maiden with the best hope of success this week. His brother Matt can provide some sage course tactics and Alex is playing the better golf of the pair at the moment, having finished sixth in the Czech Masters last month and 12th in the British Masters last time out.

Only four players outscored Alex Fitzpatrick at The Belfry on Sunday as he closed with a 68 and Crans is a great fit. His strong approach play and chipping are valuable at a layout with small greens. The Yorkshireman finished fifth on his European Masters debut 12 months ago.

Complete your attack on the golfing week with Darius van Driel, who made his DPWT breakthrough in the Kenya Open in February. The precise Dutchman appreciated the test of accuracy in Kenya and he gets another one this week.

Van Driel finished tenth in the Czech Masters last time out at a less suitable track. This fiddly course in a part of the world where he has enjoyed success, is much more his cup of tea. He started his pro career on the Alps Tour in 2015 and won the Order of Merit that year.

Van Driel's first Challenge Tour victory came in Austria in 2018, then his second was in Switzerland in 2019 in the Rolex Trophy. He is back in Switzerland this week as a lively outsider, having finished 23rd at Crans in 2022 in just his second European Masters start.

Van Driel was in dismal form coming to this tournament 12 months ago and missed the cut by a shot, but he is 190 places better in the world rankings as he returns this week.

Course guide for the European Masters

• Course Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans Montana, Switzerland
• Prize money $3.25m ($541,775 to the winner)
• Length 6,823 yards
• Par 70 - three par-five holes; ten par-fours; five par-threes
• Field 156 The cut Top 65 and ties qualify for round three
• Highest-ranked players in field (world ranking in brackets) Matt Fitzpatrick (27), Nicolai Hojgaard (50), Thriston Lawrence (62), Erik van Rooyen (68), Ryo Hisatsune (78)
• Course records - 72 holes 260 Colin Montgomerie (1996) 18 holes 60 Jamie Spence (1992), James Morrison (2021)
• Course winners taking part Miguel Angel Jimenez, Richie Ramsay, Matt Fitzpatrick (twice), Sebastian Soderberg, Rasmus Hojgaard, Thriston Lawrence
• When to bet By 6.40am on Thursday
• When to watch Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday
• Time difference Switzerland is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland
• Last week – British Masters 1 N Norgaard (45-1), 2 T Lawrence (30-1), 3 R Hojgaard (25-1), 4 J W Ko (400-1), 5 J Svensson (60-1), T6 J Campillo (66-1), M Manassero (45-1), 8 M Wallace (22-1)
• Course type Parkland
• Course overview There has been a Tour event staged at Crans every year since 1972, apart from the 2020 Covid cancellation. A Seve Ballesteros redesign in 1999 made it tougher, creating lots of run-off areas around the greens. The sixth and seventh are driveable par-fours. Small, firm, unreceptive greens are the main problem for the competitors, although they are aided by the fact that the ball flies further than normal at the altitude. Most fairways are tree-lined and undulating
• The story of last year Ludvig Aberg made his DP World Tour breakthrough, winning the event on his Crans debut
• Weather forecast Cloudy, cool and calm. Raining for much of Thursday, with shorter showers later in the week
• Type of player suited to the challenge Accuracy from tee to green and course-management have been the keys to success. The honours board is full of precise operators such as Miguel Angel Jimenez, Thomas Bjorn (twice), Richie Ramsay and Matthew Fitzpatrick (twice)
• Key attribute Accuracy

Steve Palmer's European Masters key stat

Only two of the last eight European Masters winners was a DPWT maiden

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For those looking for even more extensive golf coverage don't miss Palmer's extra pointers every Wednesday in the Racing Post newspaper.

As well as his tips and insight you will also get expert spotlight comments for all players in our extensive PGA Tour and DP Tour price comparison grids which include course and recent form, plus Palmer's unique attribute icons to help identify the type of players likely to be suited to conditions each week.