Raphael Jacquelin
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin needed a record-equalling nine playoff holes to see off Germany's Maximilian Kieffer and clinch victory in the Spanish Open on Sunday for the fourth European Tour title of his career.
Jacquelin, Kieffer and Felipe Aguilar of Colombia all finished on five under par after a testing final day of the event at the Parador de El Saler in Valencia as overnight leader Marc Warren of Britain slumped to a four-over-par 76 for a share of fourth place on four under.
Jacquelin and Kieffer birdied the third playoff hole to knock Aguilar out of contention and the pair needed a further six attempts before Jacquelin sunk another birdie to add to Tour wins at the Madrid Open in 2005, the 2007 Asian Open and the Sicilian Open two years ago.
Lasting more than two hours, it was the joint-longest playoff on the Tour since the series was created in 1972, matching the 1989 Dutch Open.
"That is very tiring but I am really, really happy," Jacquelin said.
"I could not make any putts (in the playoff) but the last one dropped, which means a lot for me and my family," added the Lyon-born 38-year-old.
"There's another baby coming at the end of November. Every time I get a baby there's a win so I'll have a football team after a few years," he joked.
Kieffer, 22, turned professional in 2010 and has one Challenge Tour title to his name, last year's Gujarat Kensville Challenge in India.
Sergio Garcia shot a final round 71 to finish in a tie for 12th.
Peter Uihlein, the former top ranked amateur in the world who led after the second round, finished in a tie for eighth for his second straight top-10 result on the European Tour.