DP World Tour : Omega European Masters..Tee Times
The Chinese star has struggled for consistency this season but was firing on all cylinders on Thursday as he made seven birdies over the par-70 Severiano Ballesteros Course at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
That saw him post his best score since the opening round of the Open de España presented by Madrid in 2022 and edge ahead of a five-strong group of players that included defending champion Thriston Lawrence, Angel Ayora, Shubhankar Sharma, Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Todd Clements.
Wu comes into the week 127th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, needing a strong finish to his season to climb into the top 100 and retain his playing privileges for the 2027 season.
The last of his five DP World Tour titles came on home soil two years ago, but he was feeling at ease in the altitude of Crans-Montana where he finished in the T10 in both 2017 and 2018.
"I was very happy to come back here, to play the tournament, and what a lovely place," he said. Everything was going pretty well [with my game]."
"I was working on my swing, with my coach in the US, and working pretty hard [too]," he added. I feel a lot of better with my swing, and I am just looking forward to playing another couple of rounds."
"No reds on the back nine but I would have taken a 64 before the round," he reflected. Pity about the OB on 14 but that's going to happen, you're going to give something to the course and you're going to get some [breaks]. I'm very happy."
Another player to have a clean scorecard was 21 year old Spaniard Ayora, who followed two birdies on the front nine with four across his final six holes.
"Bogey free, it's always good," he reflected. Today, I did everything very well. My putting was good, hit the ball pretty good, because I've been struggling a bit, hitting the ball the last few months.
"But I found something, so maybe, hopefully, it's going to be good for my long game"
Von Dellingshausen recovered from a bogey on his opening hole, to mix five birdies with an eagle at the 14th in his 64.
Sharma, who regained his tour card for this season through Qualifying School. However, he was another to capitalise on picture perfect scoring conditions as he made three birdies on both nines to sit among the nearest challengers to Wu.
Clements, who was in the first group of the day, mixed an eagle at the 14th, with six birdies and two bogeys on his way to an eventful -6 64.
Having finished tied second at the Corales Puntacana Championship in July, narrowly missing out on becoming a PGA Tour winner, the Englishman is feeling confident about his game despite a missed cut last week at The Belfry.
"It just gives you that self belief that you can do it, that you belong out here.
Eugenio Chacarra, a two-time winner this season, was then among a group of players at -5 that also included English pair Harry Hall and Jack Yule, Germany's Jeremy Paul and Sweden's Nicklas Lemke.
EDIT >>> Canada's rookie Sudarshan Yellamaraju made 5 birdies on his debut, however a double at the par5 9th along with 2 bogey's saw him in at -1 69.
He played early on Friday beginning on #10, he was out with 1 birdie, but 2 bogey's and a double at #17 +3 38. At the turn, a mixed bag, 2 more bogey's, a double with just 2 birdies, 37 for 75. He finishes T140, 69 75 +4 to miss the cut.
However Crans Montana, Switzerland is as beautiful a place to spend a weekend off as you can find !!
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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