Sami Välimäki defeated Jorge Campillo in a play-off to win the DP World Tour’s Qatar Masters. The Finn carded a birdie on the first sudden death hole to end a three-year wait for a follow-up victory to his Oman Open success in 2020.
Välimäki spent most of the final round at Doha Golf Club trailing Campillo, who held a two-stroke lead after the third round and increased his advantage to three after Välimäki bogeyed the fifth. He recovered immediately with birdies on the seventh and eighth, and gains on 12 and 13 saw him draw level on 18 under par.
The pair traded bogeys on 15 and 16, with Välimäki taking the lead for the first time after an excellent tee shot on the par-three 17th set up a ten-foot birdie putt. Campillo then birdied 18 to force extra holes as they both finished on 18 under.
In the play-off, both players found the rough with their tee shots, forcing them to lay-up on the par-five hole. Välimäki put the pressure on as he hit his approach to four feet, as Campillo left himself ten foot for birdie. The Spaniard pushed his putt, while Välimäki holed out for his second victory on the DP World Tour.
In a share of third place were Nacho Elvira and Scott Jamieson. Jamieson needed a strong week to secure his playing rights for 2024 as the top 116 on the Race to Dubai rankings would earn their cards for next year. Starting the week 119th, he carded a 16 under par total to move up to 82nd on the season-long standings and comfortably secure his place on next season’s schedule.
JAMIESON AND FISHER RETAIN CARDS
Speaking about his achievement, Jamieson said: “I’m delighted, obviously. I wasn’t in the best situation starting the week. I had spent the whole year the right side of the line and as each week went on I kept missing the cut by a shot. A lot of Friday afternoons were spent watching the scoreboards to see if I was going to sneak in. I was just trying to make cuts and keep my head above the water. Then this week, it’s a different game. I’ve got to have a result. I knew had to finish no worse than top 20, so it’s amazing what that mindset can do.”
Occupying the 116th and final spot was 2010 Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher, who finished in a share of 36th place in Qatar to secure his card for next season.
Fisher, 42, who last tasted success on tour at the Tshwane Open in 2014, said: “I should have sewn it up a little bit sooner, but if it wasn’t for poor Sunday finishes in Madrid and Sotogrande, it would have been. I didn’t realise the short putt I had on 18 in the second round was to make the cut. I thought I had a one-shot buffer. I played great yesterday and I played really well today, and I’m delighted to have kept my card.”
To see the Race to Dubai rankings after the Qatar Masters, and find out who kept and lost their full DP World Tour cards for 2023-24, click here.