SUNDAY MARCH 18, 2012 – OPEN DE ANDALUCÍA COSTA DEL SOL
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 47th European Tour event.
• Moves to €204,945 in The Race to Dubai.
• Moves to around 180th in the Official World Golf Ranking from 322nd.
• This victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of tied 16th in the 2010 Madrid Masters.
• Becomes the 400th different winner in European Tour history.
• Becomes the third first-time winner of the 2012 European Tour International Schedule. They are: Branden Grace (Joburg Open), Jbe’ Kruger (Avantha Masters) and Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol).
• Graduated from the 2011 European Challenge Tour Rankings. Is the first 2011 graduate to win on The European Tour in 2012.
• Becomes the first Challenge Tour graduate to win on The European Tour since Lee Slattery at the 2011 Bankia Madrid Masters.
• This victory beats his previous best 2012 European Tour performance of tied 17th at the Avantha Masters.
• Becomes second Frenchman to win the Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol and second at Aloha Golf Club, following Thomas Levet in 2008.
• His three shot final round wining comeback equals the largest of the 2012 European Tour to date, matching Justin Rose at the WGC – Cadillac Championship.
• His final round of 64 (-8) is the lowest final round by a winner in the history of the tournament, beating the 66 (-6) of Vijay Singh in 1992.
• His final round of 64 (-8) is the lowest final round by a winner of the 2012 season to date, beating the 65 (-7) of Paul Lawrie at the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.
OTHER FACTS
• Is the first French victory of the 2012 season and first on The European Tour since Thomas Levet at the 2011 ALSTOM Open de France.
• Becomes the 26th French victory in European Tour history.
• Becomes the 11th different French winner in European Tour history.
• Gains a place in the 2012 WGC – HSBC Champions and 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.
• Gains his biggest European Tour prize of €166,660.
• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2013.
• Becomes the sixth former Challenge Tour player to win on the 2012 European Tour. He would follow: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions), Robert Rock (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic) and Justin Rose (WGC – Cadillac Championship).
• Becomes the 291st European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.
• Becomes the 123rd different former Challenge Tour player to win on The European Tour.
• Becomes the 24th different Challenge Tour graduate to win on The European Tour the year after graduation.
• Gains his seventh victory as a professional.
