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McIlroy loses dramatic playoff to Lucquin in Switzerland

07/09/2008

Rory McIlroy's hopes of a maiden Tour victory ended in disappointment after losing a playoff to Jean-Francois Lucquin in the European Masters.

Frenchman Lucquin birdied the second extra hole at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland after McIlroy, 19, had missed a short putt for par.

Both players had earlier finished on 13-under par after Lucquin carded 67 while McIlroy (71) bogeyed the 18th to squander a one-stroke lead.

McIlroy began the day four shots ahead but made a nightmare start with two bogeys in the first three holes.

The Northern Ireland star kept himself in contention with a birdie on the 12th and a four on the long 15th.

McIlroy blew two chances for victory on the 18th green, missing a five-foot putt on the final hole before failing with a 15-foot shot on the first playoff hole.

Meanwhile, Lucquin completed a bogey-free round including a four on the final hole. And the Frenchman clinched victory on the same hole by sinking a 12-foot birdie in the play-off.

McIlroy admitted he was disappointed at finishing runner-up having been at the top of the leaderboard for all four days.

"I came here after three missed cuts in a row and found a bit of form. It would be great to get a win this year, but if not, I have the rest of my career, " McIlroy said.

"I was very unlucky on the 18th in regulation, where it got a pretty big bounce for a sand wedge.

"I hit a good chip, but not a very good putt. Then second time round in the play-off it didn't really matter as he holed his."

Scotland's Gary Orr shared third place with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez on 12-under along with Christian Cevaer and Julien Clement.