Julien Guerrier is celebrating after capturing a maiden DP World Tour title after a record-matching nine-hole play-off at the Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters.
Guerrier, 39 and teeing-up also in his 230th Tour start since making his debut in 2005, pared the ninth extra hole to defeat home favourite Jorge Campillo after the Spaniard found a greenside bunker with his approach shot into the 18th hole before taking a bogey 5 and leaving his French opponent to win with a par on the host Royal Sotogrande course.
In a remarkable coincidence, Guerrier’s coach is fellow Frenchman Raphael Guquelin won a nine-hole playoff for the Spanish Open in 2013 and now one of three tournaments that have gone to nine extra play-off holes.
As well, Guerrier’s caddy Chris Lilley had spent 10-years caddying for Jacquelin in his four-Tour victories career.
Delighted for Julien, Chris (Lilley his caddy) & coach Raphael Jacquelin @Raphjacquelin
19 years, 230 DPWT events + 9 extra holes is a long wait for first
Happy for Chris who caddied 10-years for Raphael securing 4 Tour s (See: https://t.co/l2bQPKNzhk )
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) October 20, 2024
Big crowds supported the Spanish all week and no doubt expecting Campillo, who lives just a two-hour drive from the course, to come out on top with a fourth Tour title.
However the wheels began to wobble for Campillo who looked on target through 10 round holes to become a first player to win on the Tour in posting four bogey-free rounds but that before he dropped a first of three shots from the 12th to allow Guerrier and other rivals back into the tournament.
When Campillo bogeyed the last in regulation it meant Guerrier needed to par the last from 16-feet to force the play-off which his sensationally did.
The duo then headed back to the 18th on three occassions and each time with pars before the play-off headed to the 17th that each also pared. It was back to 18 for the fifth play-off hole that was pared and then the 17th for par, and then to the 18th for a seventh time but still no winner.
They returned to the 17th for an eighth occasion only to walk off with pars before Campillo leaked a poor tee shot off 18th down the left sife from where he found a greenside bunker with his second. Guerrier was on the green in regulation but a fair distance from the pin but after Campillo failed the green and then missed his par putt, all the Frenchman had to was hole out for par for the win.
Frenchman Julien Guerrier lifts his first DPWT trophy with victory in the 2024 Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters (Image Getty/DPWT)
“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”, said Guerrier who became emotional the more he spoke and as the enormity of his win began to sink in.
“We work really hard every week for that but we have to stay patient so I can’t believe it because Jorge is a great player.
“I knew it would be really hard because his putting is amazing. Also my iron game was not in good shape today but my putting was really good.
“So I was trying to do my best and I’m really happy.
“On the last putt, I was thinking of my kids to give me the strength to hit it, so thanks to my family and my team.
“It’s a long wait and I’m very happy.”
Victory earned Guerrier a prize cheque of some Euro 509,ooo and has seen him leap from 81st on the Race to Dubai to 18th.
Englishman Dan Brown finished alone in third, two shots behind Guerrier and Campillo on 19 under, one ahead of Jordan Smith and Rasmus Højgaard in joint-fourth.
Two-time Major champion Jon Rahm carded a five under par final round of 67 to finish sixth on 17 under par.
