Jorge Campillo nearly gave it away in the final minutes of regulation at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. Campillo, the 33-year-old Spaniard, made a double-bogey on the 17th hole at Education City Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, that erased his two-shot lead and dropped him back to 13 under and in a tie with David Drysdale.
It took five extra holes but eventually Campillo found himself back in the top spot, and with his second career European Tour title.
Campillo started the playoff by putting his tee shot in the bunker at the 18th, but he saved himself with a 25-footer for birdie. Drysdale made his birdie from 6 feet.
Scores: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Playoff victory for @jcampillogolf 🏆#QatarMasters pic.twitter.com/zx8qVbs9Bd
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 8, 2020
On the next trip down the final hole, Campillo made birdie from 20 feet and Drysdale made one from inside that, once again. The two matched pars on the next two trips down the hole before Campillo won with a birdie from 20 feet when Drysdale missed from similar range.
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.
“I’m just so proud right now of the way I played in the play-off,” he said. “I hardly missed a shot and I was able to make some putts.
“I hit some good shots coming in in the middle of the round but you have to be patient, you have to try hard. I knew I was going to make some putts. It was a tough win but I’m glad I pulled it off.
“It’s a great par 4, 18. A tough hole. David was hitting some great shots into the hole and I had to make some putts. Three birdies out of six on 18 to win is something to be proud of.”
Campillo’s final-round 1-over 72 was his highest by far for the week. He started with back-to-back rounds of 66 before a third-round 67.
Behind Drysdale in second, three men tied for third at 12 under: Niklas Lemke, Kalle Samooja and Jeff Winther. Lemke had the highest final-round climb with his closing 6-under 65. It moved him 18 spots up the leaderboard.
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