Frenchman Julien Guerrier ended his long wait for a maiden DP World Tour title after he beat Spain’s Jorge Campillo in a record-equalling nine-hole play-off at the Andalucia Masters.
The 39-year-old holed out from eight feet to secure victory on his 230th start.
In a remarkable coincidence, Guerrier’s French coach Raphael Jacquelin won a nine-hole play-off for the Spanish Open in 2013, external while the only other European Tour event decided by a nine-hole playoff was the 1989 Dutch Open, won by Jose Maria Olazabal.
The lead changed hands between Guerrier and Campillo throughout the final day but the Spaniard bogeyed the 18th and Guerrier landed a 16-foot par putt to force the play-off.
Campillo, who sank his putt from 15 foot for par on the first play-off hole, had chances to win on the third, seventh and eighth extra holes, but missed from six, 10 and 15 feet respectively.
Guerrier then made par on the ninth extra hole after Campillo was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
“I’m feeling great and I can’t believe I made it. Because it’s been a really long time I’ve been waiting for it,” he said.
“We work really hard every week for that but we have to stay patient.
“I know Jorge Campillo is a great player but today it goes my way so I’m very happy.”
