Eight Swiss players, eight different paths, one shared ambition in Crans-Montana

With eight Swiss players in the field for the 2026 OMEGA European Masters, Swiss golf will be particularly well represented this week in Crans-Montana. From the experience of Joel Girrbach, who is set to make his tenth appearance at the Valais venue, to first-time participants Mischa Candinas and Ben Steinmann, the profiles are diverse, but they all share the same opportunity: to test themselves against the best of European golf on one of the country’s most prestigious stages.

At 33, the Thurgau native is the only Swiss player to have earned his place in the field directly. A DP World Tour member since 2024, Girrbach knows the Crans-Montana event particularly well: the 2026 edition will be his tenth appearance. He also comes into the week with an encouraging recent memory, having recorded his best result in the Alps last year with a seventh-place finish.

“I’ve played this tournament at least ten times, so I know the course pretty well by now. But I think the conditions this year are fantastic. Everything is really green, and the changes to the course look great. I’m very proud that we have such a tournament here in Switzerland, and I’m really looking forward to the week.”

That knowledge of the course could prove a valuable asset as he looks to turn his experience into another strong performance in front of the Swiss crowd.

At 29, the Vaud native is also no stranger to the unique atmosphere of the OMEGA European Masters. Making his third appearance, Foley will be looking to make the cut in Crans-Montana for the first time. Competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, the second tier of European professional golf, he will have the opportunity to test himself against the best players on the DP World Tour on a course he now knows well.

At 26, Ronan Kleu is part of the new generation of Swiss golf. The Zurich native will make his fifth OMEGA European Masters appearance, with a clear initial goal: to improve on his best result, a 47th-place finish last year. Like Foley, he competes on the HotelPlanner Tour, where each tournament represents another step in his progression towards the highest level of European golf.

At 37, Benjamin Rusch is one of the most experienced Swiss players in this year’s field. The Thurgau native will tee it up in Crans-Montana for the ninth time, giving him extensive knowledge of the course. His best result came in 2022, when he finished 23rd. Also competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, Rusch will be looking to return to the upper end of the leaderboard.

At just 24, Nicola Gerhardsen continues to develop his game on the Pro Golf Tour, the third tier of European professional golf. The Zurich native already knows the tournament well, with the 2026 edition marking his fifth appearance. His best result, a 59th-place finish in 2024, reflects his still-growing experience at this level. Against a particularly strong field, this year’s tournament offers another opportunity to measure his progress on the professional circuit.

The 26-year-old Geneva native will also make his third appearance at the OMEGA European Masters. A member of the Alps Tour, he is still looking for his first cut in Crans-Montana. This week, he will aim to break that run in a tournament where every experience can prove valuable as he continues to build his professional career.

For Mischa Candinas, the 2026 edition will be particularly special: the 21-year-old is set to make his OMEGA European Masters debut. A student at Marquette University, where he competes in the US NCAA college golf system, Candinas is one of the young talents representing the next generation of Swiss golf.

His first appearance will primarily give him the opportunity to experience the demands of a professional tournament of this scale and to compete directly against players he usually follows through rankings and broadcasts.

At just 20, Ben Steinmann will be the second NCAA student representing Switzerland this week. The Golf & Country Club Zürich player, who studies at Southern Methodist University, is nevertheless already familiar with the Crans-Montana course.

“When I was younger, I played Beat the Pro here when I was 15, and since then I’ve played quite a few Swiss Golf events and other tournaments here. So I’m pretty familiar with the course.”

That familiarity with the course is matched by his excitement at making his OMEGA European Masters debut in front of his family and friends.

“I’m feeling great and I’m really excited. It’s my home country, so I have a lot of people here supporting me, and my family is here as well.”

For Steinmann, the tournament will above all be an opportunity to see where his game stands against the professionals in the field.

“For me, success is really about seeing where my game stands compared to all the professionals here and just doing the best I can. If I stay focused, trust my game and stick to my routine, I think I’ll be in a good position. I just need to stay calm and patient, and then hopefully the result will take care of itself.”

His philosophy for this first experience is clear: stay focused, remain patient and trust his game.

From the DP World Tour to the NCAA, via the HotelPlanner Tour, Pro Golf Tour and Alps Tour, the eight Swiss players in this week’s field illustrate the different paths that can lead to the OMEGA European Masters.

For some, like Girrbach, the aim will be to confirm their place among the best and make the most of their strong knowledge of the course. For others, the challenge will be to take another step forward, make their first cut or simply experience what it means to compete against the elite of European golf.

One thing is certain: in Crans-Montana, each player will have a story of their own to write. And they can all count on the support of the Swiss crowd.