2024 Estrella Damm Andalucia Masters, Real Golf Club de Sotogrande,  par-72, San Roque, Spain

Excitement galore – France’s Julien  Guerrier triumphs in record 9-hole  play-off for his first DP World Tour Win

Sunday dawned with perfect golfing conditions – sunny no wind with the course maintained to perfection for the crowded leaderboard.   Spain’s Jorge Campillo shared the lead with France’s Julien Guerrier and  a multinational group chasing.  Crowds lined the fairways with nine  Spanish players battling for victory including former World No 1 Jon Rahm plus Spain’s popular rising talent Angel  Hidalgo winner in Madrid  days ago.

Campillo led the battle most of Sunday until the 72^nd hole where  Guerrier finally caught him with a brilliant par while Campillo could only bogey forcing a play-off.

Three times they battled and squared off in play-off  on the par-4 18^th, then  they moved to the par-3 17^th ; finally on the 9^th play-off on the 18^th Guerrier won with a par tying the DP World Tour record and his first victory. (14 Play-off holes is the world record posted on the Japanese tour.)

Finally in the winner’s circle on his 230’th start, Guerrier catapulted up from 81^st to being ranked 18^th, qualifying for the DP World Tour Championship next month. Having turned pro in 2008, he was ecstatic after some close finishes. 

An emotional Guerrier shared, “I’m feeling great, I can’t believe I made it because it’s been a really long time I’ve been waiting for it. We work really hard every week for that but we have to stay patient. I know  Campillo is a great player but today it goes my way so I’m very happy. My game wasn’t in the best shape but my putting was very good and I fought to do my best. My kids  gave me the strength to get over the line, I want to thank them.” 

Guerrier opened the tournament Thursday with -10 in gusty, devilish conditions to lead the tournament.

Guerrier posted a course record nine under par round of 63 to join home favorite Jorge Campillo at the top of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters leaderboard after the third round at 197. England’s Daniel Brown also made the final group.

The Frenchman had already made five birdies in his first ten holes before firing two eagles in the space of three holes at the 12th and 14th to move to 19 under par alongside Campillo at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. Guerrier shared, “The key is the short game because it’s where I made my score. I hit two great shots on the par fives,  a little bit of luck as well. It can be a rollercoaster out there. A tournament is not a sprint it’s a marathon, so I just try to enjoy every moment.”

Spain’s Campillo, had a four-shot lead teeing off Saturday making birdies at the second, fourth and seventh to make the turn in 33.

Rahm didn’t have his “A- Game” Saturday, “It wasn’t quite enough today. I felt like I was good off the tee, but s made too many mistakes – missing a short putt on four, three putted  14”. He finished with a 67, four shots behind the winners Sunday.

UK’s Daniel Brown was third with Nicolas Hojgaard  tying fourth  with England’s Jordan Smith.

Guerrier shared  lastly, “French golf is very good right now and seeing the other guys win out here gave me so much belief that my time would come, and I could win. It still hasn’t sunk in, and I will go back home and spend some time with my family to celebrate.”

Julien Guerrier will return to defend his title next year and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande it was just confirmed in the newly published 2025 DP World Tour release. 

Susanne Kemper