Jorge Campillo outduels David Drysdale in Qatar Masters playoff

08 March 2020: Jorge Campillo defeated David Drysdale in a play-off to win his second European Tour title at the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. After three productive days, SSP Chawrasia shot a 74 on Sunday, to end the week in T28, similar to his result from the Oman Open where he finished in T25.

The ninth hole was Chawrasia’s nemesis this week, as he conceded four bogeys there. And he also leaked three strokes on the final nine to end with a 74. But for the most part though, it was another great week for the Indian. He shot scores of 67-69-68 in the other three rounds and spent much of the week inside the top ten. At one stage, Chawrasia was just two strokes off the pace, but a tough final round slid him down the order.

Campillo held a two shot lead with two holes to play but a double bogey on the 17th dropped him back to 13 under and we went to extra holes for the second week in a row.

The Spaniard 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 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. Another putt from beyond 20 feet brought Campillo a birdie and when Drysdale missed from similar range, Campillo was a two time winner in his 250th event after five extra trips up the last.

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.

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.

Swede Alexander Björk was at 11 under, a shot clear of countryman Marcus Kinhult, Italy’s Nino Bertasio, South African George Coetzee, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and England’s Chris Paisley.

“It was a tough win but I’m glad I pulled it off. It’s been tough. I didn’t get to practise that much, too many things to do. Getting married and then the honeymoon,” gushed Campillo.

“New caddie, new clubs so everything was a little different, my game was a little off, but I knew that with practice I would get to where I was.”

“It’s a great par four, 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.

“I’m just so proud right now of the way I played in the play-off. I hardly missed a shot and I was able to make some putts. I’m very thankful for everyone that helped me and Callaway with the new material that helped me a lot.”

Final round scores

271 J Campillo (Esp) 66 66 67 72, D Drysdale (Sco) 67 69 64 71,
272 J Winther (Den) 66 69 65 72, N Lemke (Swe) 68 69 70 65, K Samooja (Fin) 70 67 66 69,
273 A Björk (Swe) 70 63 69 71,
274 M Kinhult (Swe) 68 65 73 68, N Bertasio (Ita) 72 69 67 66, P Larrazábal (Esp) 72 67 63 72, G Coetzee (RSA) 70 68 69 67, C Paisley (Eng) 69 70 67 68,
275 S Jamieson (Sco) 67 68 69 71, A Saddier (Fra) 69 70 67 69, G Green (Mas) 70 69 71 65, M Armitage (Eng) 67 71 66 71, L Gagli (Ita) 66 70 69 70,
276 B Hebert (Fra) 67 70 72 67, J Senior (Eng) 69 66 68 73, T Detry (Bel) 72 66 66 72, B Poke (Den) 68 67 66 75,
277 J Morrison (Eng) 73 68 68 68, J Luiten (Ned) 65 68 75 69, J Scrivener (Aus) 70 71 70 66, A Sullivan (Eng) 66 66 72 73, T Pieters (Bel) 66 70 70 71, M Schwab (Aut) 70 70 67 70, M Pavon (Fra) 70 69 69 69,
278 L Van Meijel (Ned) 70 66 71 71, J Wang (Kor) 70 69 72 67, J Harding (RSA) 70 67 70 71, Z Lombard (RSA) 70 69 70 69, F Zanotti (Par) 69 68 71 70, M Jordan (Eng) 70 67 69 72, S Chawrasia (Ind) 67 69 68 74, D Fichardt (RSA) 67 68 73 70, W Nienaber (RSA) 68 70 69 71, A Cañizares (Esp) 71 69 68 70

European Tour Release