Catlin wins Austrian Open after 5 hole playoff against Max Kieffer

John Catlin won his third European Tour title in eight months as he overcame Maximilian Kieffer in a play-off following a dramatic final day battle at the 2021 Austrian Golf Open.

The American started the day two shots off the lead and was four back after Kieffer picked up six shots in seven holes to take control at Diamond Country Club.

But as Kieffer's momentum stalled in a two horse race, Catlin took his birdie tally for the day to seven as he carded a bogey free 65 to set the target at 14 under.

In the group behind, the German found sand off the 18th tee but showed nerves of steel to get up and down for par and the contest went to extra holes... Read more

From Yahoo!Sports:

John Catlin’s third European Tour title in eight months didn’t come easily. In fact it took five extra holes against Maximilian Kieffer at the Austrian Open for Catlin, a 30-year-old from California, to come out on top.

Catlin played the final round at Diamond Country Club near Vienna, Austria, in 7-under 65, which was one better than Kieffer’s closing 66. Catlin was bogey-free in the final round, but Kieffer tossed in a pair of bogeys offset by an eagle at the par-5 fourth.  Read more 

From Golf Digest:

A most bizarre finish.  There was bit of a “Groundhog Day” feel to the playoff on Sunday at the European Tour’s Austrian Golf Open between John Catlin and Maximilian Kieffer. The two finished their final rounds on the par-3 18th hole at Diamond Country Club outside Vienna tied at 14 under for the tournament. So it was on to a sudden-death playoff, which would be played exclusively on that same 18th hole until somebody emerged the winner.

As it turned out there was nothing “sudden” about the playoff, however, the duo putting up matching pars the first two times around, then each making a birdie on the third playing under chilly overcast skies (both players bundled for what appeared like winter weather rather than spring)... Read more here

Austrian Open 2021 Leaderboard