When the European Tour visits Crans each year for the Omega European Masters, we are usually promised something special. The setting itself is truly picturesque, but the golf course itself has yielded many memorable moments with players being inspired by the remarkable surroundings. This weekend promises to be no different, as at the end of Friday the leaderboard is keenly poised, with a former champion in the shape of Thomas Bjorn leading the way, alongside a talented Scot in Stephen Gallacher who will be hoping that the next two days will be the first important step in a race to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team at Gleneagles. They are at the summit on this mountainous resort.
For Thomas Bjorn, who claimed the title in 2011, the objective this week was to avoid “stupid bogeys”. And, he very nearly established an unblemished record in that department after 36-holes. Without having dropped a shot after 35 holes, Bjorn found himself with the outright lead at 11-under standing on the 18th tee. However, it was here that the first bogey of the week would come, as Bjorn had to settle for a 10-under total after posting two consecutive rounds of 66.
However, Bjorn is more than content with his position, and with the nature of his play thus far.
“I played better today,” said Bjorn. “At the end, it was not the prettiest but I played alright and just kept my patience.
“I told myself not to make any stupid bogeys this week because everybody’s going to do that. I made one down the last, which is the first one, but it is just one of those things.
“I am happy with how I am playing; I played steady without being spectacular.”
Stephen Gallacher would find himself mentioned in the golfing definition of steady, and the player from West Lothian, who lost in a playoff at Gleneagles two weeks ago, shot a second round of 65 to match Bjorn’s total at the halfway stage.
It has been a difficult week for the Gallacher family, with Stephen’s uncle Bernard, a former European Ryder Cup star as a player and captain, recovering back home in Scotland after suffering a heart attack in Aberdeen. Fortunately, the 64-year-old’s condition is said to have improved, with the likeable former three-time European Ryder Cup captain having been taken out of intensive care at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Stephen will have Ryder Cup ambitions of his own, particularly with the event to be staged next year in Scotland for the first time in 40 years. Gallacher, who won the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year, is certainly capable of qualifying for that team, but to do so he will have to become a more clinical and regular winner than he has been in his career to date. However, with the qualification system having begun last week, a victory this weekend in Switzerland may just see that possibility become just that little bit more likely, and that will be the perfect tonic for Stephen, and Bernard.
One shot back of the leading duo is a group of Danny Willett, Victor Dubuisson, Richard Finch, Tommy Fleetwood and Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The 49-year-old Spaniard, Jimenez, is making his 25th consecutive appearance in the event, and over that time he has become a firm favourite with the attending fans.
He could have tied for the lead after making successive birdies at the 16th and 17th, but a mistake on the 18th cost him a closing bogey. It seems that Jimenez, who is at 9-under, is still learning about how to play Crans-Sur-Sierre.
“I feel comfortable here," he said. "I’ve been coming for 25 years and I love to come here. That’s it. You need some fortune on the golf course but you need to think where you are going to place the ball because the greens are hard.
“I enjoy it here. You have to stay patient. We are still learning after so many years on the Tour that patience is the key.
“You get your reward. I’m still learning on the 18th that I cannot play for distance. Every year, through the back, through the back. I’m still learning. We will see tomorrow!”
Jimenez will look forward to tomorrow, as will many others, with 29 players all within six shots of the lead. Two shots off the lead you have a group that includes the resurgent Paul Casey, and talented American Brooks Koepka. At 7-under, three back of Bjorn and Gallacher, you have Padraig Harrington, who is attempting to recapture his form of old after the three-time major champion suffered a disappointing season on the PGA Tour.
Given the congestion at the leading end of this board, and the number of notable protagonists involved, we can surely once again be forgiven to expect another classic in high the Swiss Alps.