Matt Fitzpatrick, of England, hits from the 14th fairway during the first round of the BMW Championship golf event at Castle Pines Golf Club, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Castle Rock, Colo. (AP Photo/Matt York) European Tour OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS Site: Crans Montana, Switzerland Course: Crans-sur-Sierre GC. Yardage: 6,823. Par: 70. Prize money: $3.25 million. Winner’s share: $541,667. Television: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 6:30-11:30 a.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Ludvig Aberg. Race to Dubai leader: Rory McIlroy. Last week: Niklas Norgaard won the Betfred British Masters. Notes: Ludvig Aberg will not be back to defend as he just finished the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour. He is having surgery for a torn meniscus.... Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick is the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 27. He is going for a record-tying third title at the European Masters.... Jonas Blixt is playing for the 19th time on the European tour this year through a category that takes players from No. 126-200 on the FedEx Cup last year. He has made only six cuts.... Miguel Angel Jimenez is playing the European Masters for the 34th time. He won the tournament in 2010.... The tournament was known as the Swiss Open until 1992....Laurie Canter is in the field. He is poised to get a PGA Tour card next year through the top 10 in the Race to Dubai of those not eligible. Canter would have to wait until February to play because of his appearance as an alternate on LIV Golf. Next week: Amgen Irish Open. Online: https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/