Scot David Drysdale has been horribly denied ending a near-500 winless drought losing out for the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters crown at the fifth extra play-off hole in Doha.
Drysdale can really feel short-changed with Spaniard Jorge Campillo holing four monster putts at the 18th, a first in regulation to force the play-off and then three of five times on the same green in the play-off.
The Borders golfer teed-up in the Qatar capital in his 498th Tour event since making his debut at the 1999 Scottish PGA title and in that time having managed three second place results and 25 top-10s.
Drysdale, and with wife and caddy Vicky by his side, headed to the play-off after he and Campillo ended regulation play locked at 13-under par.
Campillo led by two shots with three holes to play but imploded in bogeying the 16th and taking double on 17 for a one-over par 72.
Drysdale had his own issues managing just two birdies, including birding the 14th hole for a fourth day running but then giving the shot back in missing the green well right at the par-3 15th.
The Eyemouth-attached Scot seemed so relaxed coming-up the last in regulation he lit-up a cigarette as he headed to his ball.
He superbly landed his second to around six-feet but looked on in despair when his birdie attempt just missed it mark.
Campillo was in a fairway bunker off the tee at the first extra hole and with Drysdale even closer to the pin with his second but when Campillo holed a monster birdie, Drysdale stepped-up and knocked-in his birdie to send the event into second play-off hole.
The pair halved the third and fourth holes in par but with Campillo again draining a lengthy birdie putt at the fifth extra hole leaving the Scot to hole an uphill 10-footer he missed left of the hole.
Vikcy Drysdale went onto Twitter long after the event and said: “Gutted not to win @CBQatarMasters But I’m so Proud of DD the way he played in that play off. Unbelievable putting by @jcampillogolf Congratulations Jorge. Thank you so much to Everyone for ur kind messages & Support #TeamDD will keep fighting for that win @EuropeanTour
Amazingly, there had been just six birdies all day in regulation at the 18th but then Dyrsdale and Campillo between them managed five between them.
Campillo, 33 had taken 229 events to win a first Tour title and how he’s won a second in a further 21 starts.
Drysdale was also looking to become the third Scot to win in the 22-year history of the event after Andrew Coltart captured the inaugural event in 1998 and with Paul Lawrie winning a year later.
And calling the shots for SKY Golf was Coltart who shared Dyrsdale’s disappointment.
He said: “I feel bitterly disappointed for David. It’s right that he can take away a lot of positives from this week but it’s the first win he so desperately wanted and that is what will hurt.”
Dysdale’s effort will see him jump 278 places on the World Rankings and up to 297th.
The Drysdale’s are now heading to India for this week’s Hero Indian Open where fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher will be defending.
And there will be a hopeful early double celebration with Drysdale turning 45 on Thursday.
