Ashun Wu fires flawless 63 to take Omega European Masters lead

The Chinese star 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 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 Delivered by DP World, 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 top ten 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."

Two-time champion Lawrence appeared most likely to set the pace on the opening day when he fired six front-nine birdies, but his momentum stalled on the back nine as he settled for a bogey-free 64.

Victory this week would see the South African become the first player since Severiano Ballesteros to win the tournament on three occassions since it formed part of the DP World Tour's inaugural season in 1972.

Despite the exquisite start to his round, largely through stellar approach play, his par at the par five 14th after his original tee shot went out of bounds [OB] will likely be just as much a source of satisfaction.

"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."

Eugenio Chacarra, a two-time winner this season, was then among a group of players at five under that also included English pair Harry Hall and Jack Yule, Germany's Jeremy Paul and Sweden's Nicklas Lemke.