[PHOTO: Andrew Redington]
It’s that time of year on the DP World Tour. So, as Jorge Campillo and Julien Guerrier stumbled and fumbled their way into a playoff for the title at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters – both were over par for the last six holes in regulation play – other agendas revealed themselves a little lower on a crowded leaderboard. None of which involved the obvious frustrations of Jon Rahm. The former US Open and Masters champion pulled up in a disappointing sixth place, three shots shy of the playoff, but at least assured his presence in the season-ending playoff events in the Middle East next month.
Most strikingly, a few of those partially hidden sidebars involved the race for PGA Tour cards. The 10 leading players on the Race to Dubai not already owning exempt status ‘across the pond’ will gain that status at the conclusion of next month’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
No doubt feeling least pressure in that regard was Rasmus Hojgaard. The Dane, who agonisingly missed out on the final hole of that final event almost a year ago, was already almost certain to join his identical twin brother, Nicolai, on the 2025 PGA Tour. But he all but confirmed that elevated status with a T-4 finish. Only South African Thriston Lawrence sits above Hojgaard in the standings.
The same level of contentment, however, cannot be applied to Jordan Smith and Thorbjorn Olesen. Not yet at least. Although both did themselves some good with a continuation of recent fine form, much work remains to be done. Smith arrived in southern Spain sitting 11th on the “card standings”, but leaves four spots higher, courtesy of his T-4 finish, his sixth top-20 placing in his past seven events.
Olesen’s play has been similarly impressive in its consistency – his T-7 finish was his fourth inside the top 12 in his past five starts – but his latest PGA Tour chase involved a choice. After finishing a lowly 157th on the FedEx Cup rankings, the Dane could either try to get his card back via the “Fall Series” events, or attempt to repeat his feat of 12 months ago and re-qualify through his home circuit. Based on his familiarity with the courses involved, he chose the latter, which is looking like a good decision. With three events to go, the former Ryder Cup player is up to 10th in the standings.
Anyway, back at the playoff, the destination of the title was eventually decided in Guerrier’s favour, the 39-year old prevailing with a par at the ninth extra hole (equalling the tour record). Remarkably, it was the Frenchman’s first DP World Tour victory, 19 years after his debut on the Old World circuit. Needless to say, he was an emotional figure after making the winning putt.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “I was thinking of my wife and children over that last putt. They gave me the strength to hole it. It’s been a long wait, but I’m really happy.”
On the other hand, sympathy for the runner-up needs to be tempered by reality. While clearly disappointed to lose, the 38-year old Spaniard surely won’t lose any sleep when it comes to the bigger picture. This is one player who is unlikely to be chasing another year on the PGA Tour. Having picked up one of the 10 cards 12 months ago, the Indiana University graduate and runner-up in the 2008 NCAA Championship, showed little enthusiasm for the switch across the Atlantic. So his subsequent record of one top-10 finish in 17 starts was perhaps no surprise. Before all that though, he articulated his reluctance.
“I’m going to play over here until Qatar before I go to the States,” said Campillo at the Dubai Invitational in January. “I’ll start in Mexico. Then Florida and Texas. I’ll play six before I come back here. That’s more than enough. I know it will be a great experience. But I’m content where I am right now. It’s not as if I can’t wait to play on the PGA Tour. I’m not super-excited; put it that way.”
Some people are never happy.
