Omega European Masters - Day one digest

Everything you need to know from the first round at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Cañizares and Lawrence climbed to the summit and Cockerill celebrated a hole-in-one in the mountains on day one of the 2022 Omega European Masters.

Here is everything you need to know from the first round at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

Cañizares finds his very best form

Alejandro Cañizares has struggled at times this season but he was back to his best on Thursday, firing a sensational 62 to grab a share of the lead. His eight-under-par effort represented his lowest round of the 2022 campaign and catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard, where he sat alongside Thriston Lawrence. Cañizares said: "It was a great round, I started off really comfortable. My goal today was to focus on the targets, not my swing, since it hasn’t worked lately. I did that well, even though I made a three-putt early on. Really happy to bounce back from that one. I kept going, kept hitting good shots. It felt almost like it was unconscious. That is what I’m working on, to forget about technique and let it go. It’s difficult if you don’t practise it enough. I did that today. Putted great, made two up-and-downs on the last two. I’m over the moon."

Cockerill's amazing ace

Having dropped his first shot of the day at the second, Aaron Cockerill banished the memory of that bogey in style as he produced a stunning hole-in-one on the short third hole. He holed from 170 yards using a nine iron, and in doing so won a CHF 30,000 insurance policy from Vaudoise. Cockerill said: "It landed five short and one hop right into the hole. It was awesome, I’ve not had a hole-in-one in a few years. There were a few people on the next tee and we could see it go right in. You don’t want to be long on that green, so it was good that it caught the hole. My future children and my wife will be very happy about the prize."

Nicolai goes so, so close

Speaking of aces, Nicolai Højgaard almost had one of his own at the 11th. The afternoon starter aimed right at the flag with his tee-shot and came up about one foot short.

Defending champion starts nicely

Nicolai Højgaard's twin Rasmus was crowned King of the Mountains here last year as he claimed his third DP World Tour title. He was in impressive form again on Thursday, making seven birdies and two bogeys to get to five under, three shots off the lead.

Stunning scenery

With views like these, it's no wonder the pros love coming to Crans Montana...

First-round co-leader Lawrence said: "How can you not enjoy this scenery? Even if you’re playing badly, you still have something to look at. Amazing golf course, amazing views, I’m having lots of fun."