Lucquin beats McIlroy in playoff
by Arthur Sullivan, 08 September 2008
France's Jean-Francois Lucquin beat Rory McIlroy in a playoff to win the European Masters title at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland.
Lucquin holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to sink McIlroy, who had missed a short putt on the 18th hole in regulation play to win.
McIlroy missed an even shorter putt for par on the deciding hole, but Lucquin's birdie rendered the Northern Ireland teenager's miss meaningless.
However, McIlroy had a glorious chance to win the title on the final hole in normal play but he pulled his par putt, meaning he would face a playoff with Lucquin, whose celebrations upon holing out on 18 indicated that he knew a playoff was likely.
McIlroy went into the final round four shots clear of a group of four, including Lucquin, but the Holywood golfer started dreadfully, bogeying two of the first three holes.
A number of players were thrust into contention as a result of McIlroy's mini-collapse, including home favourite Julien Clement, Argentina's Juan Abbate, Frenchman Christian Cevaer and Spain's Alejandro Canizares.
Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez was also lurking ominously, moving to within one shot of the lead before his front nine was over.
However, McIlroy recovered well to go into a tie for the lead with Abbate and Canizares, before taking the outright lead on the 15th with a superb birdie putt.
Lucquin was pumped up though, and he remained firmly in contention, finishing strongly to card a 67, sparking some fierce, fist-pumping celebrations.
Abbate and Canizares faded on their back nines, and Jimenez had just come up short despite carding an excellent 67, leaving McIlroy needing a par on the last to win the title. However, he could only manage bogey, and the play-off ensued.
The sudden death play-off consisted of playing the 18th hole until a winner emerged, and the players couldn't be separated after the first extra hole. However, Lucquin played the second play-off hole beautifully, sinking a birdie after McIlroy's rushed miss to win his first tour title.