A First in Crans-Montana for Murat Yakin

The Credit Suisse Gold Pro-Am took place on Wednesday on the 18-hole Severiano Ballesteros course. 

The professionals fine-tuned their preparation for Thursday's first round of the Omega European Masters, and the amateurs enjoyed themselves. Isn't five hours of concentration on a golf course too much? "Not at all. It's just a pleasure to be able to play, to rub shoulders with a professional who is going to play in the main tournament the next day," said Murat Yakin, coach of the Swiss football team, which has qualified for the next World Cup in Qatar.

Very fast greens

The Basel native, who has been a golf fan for many years, played alongside South African pro Thriston Lawrence. "After football, it's clearly my favourite sport. I try to play it as often as possible. Now I've just come back from a family holiday. I hadn't touched a golf club for two months before this Pro-Am. The result of the day? "It was the first time I played on the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club course. I was extremely surprised by the speed of the greens. I loved this tournament configuration", continues Murat Yakin.

The former football player is one of those sportsmen who does very well in golf. At first glance, however, there is no real correlation between the round ball and the little white ball. "I think that as sportsmen we are able to stay focused in the crucial moments. This is just as important in golf as it is in football or downhill skiing," concludes Murat Yakin.