Campillo wins Qatar Masters after five-hole playoff

Spain’s Jorge Campillo beat Scotland’s David Drysdale following a marathon play-off to win his second European Tour title at the Qatar Masters.

The Spaniard held a two shot lead with two holes to play at Education City Golf Club in Doha, but a double bogey on the 17th dropped him back to 13 under and extra holes were required for the second week in a row on the tour to find a winner.

Campillo found sand off the tee on the first trip back up the last, but a 25-foot putt brought a birdie which Drysdale matched from six feet.

A 20-footer brought another birdie for the 33-year-old Campillo, and with Drysdale even closer to the hole than after his previous effort, the duo shared a fist bump before returning to the tee after another pair of birdies.

Both men made routine pars on the third and fourth play-off holes and were given a buggy to make their way down the fairway as the light began to fade in Doha. At the fifth play-off hole, another putt from beyond 20 feet brought Campillo a birdie, and when Drysdale missed from similar range, Campillo was crowned the winner.

Campillo had to wait 229 events for his first European Tour victory at the Trophée Hassan II but he has now won in consecutive seasons. For Drysdale, this was the 498th European Tour event without a win and a fourth runner up finish.

Campillo, whose only win came at last year’s Trophée Hassan II in Morocco, said: “Apart from 17, I was pretty solid all day, and making three birdies out of six on 18 was pretty good.

David hit some great shots into the hole and I had to make some putts, which I’m proud that I managed to do.”

Dane Jeff Winther bogeyed the 16th and 17th to finish one shot out of the play-off alongside Swede Niklas Lemke and Finn Kalle Samooja.

What’s in the bag – Jorge Campillo
Driver:
Callaway Rogue 9°
Fairway: Callaway MAVRIK 13.5°
Hybrid: Callaway Apex 18°
Utility: Callaway X Forged UT 21°
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro ’19, 4-7; Callaway Apex MB 3, 8-9
Wedges: Callaway JAWS MD5 46°, 52°, 58°
Putter: Odyssey Toulon Madison