Raphael Jacquelin

Last Sunday France's Raphael Jacquelin won his fourth European Tour title at the Spanish Open in Valencia. As this seasoned golfer continues on his successful career path, this week's player profile touches on some of Jacquelin's recent golfing milestones.

38-year-old Jacquelin hails from the French city of Lyon, where he gained an interest in golf as a teenager. After several years of dedicated practice, the young Jacquelin made his professional debut in the 1995 season after a victory at the French Amateur Championship. The Frenchman's first few professional seasons were spent on the Challenge Tour, where he weathered many challenges to rise steadily in the rankings until his debut on the European Tour in 1998.

Success in golf is all about patience and dedication, and few players demonstrate these qualities better than Jacquelin. Following his 1998 debut on the European Tour he would wait seven years before lifting the trophy for the first time at Open de Madrid, beating Scotland's Paul Lawrie by a solid three strokes to clinch the title.

Following his first win on the European Tour Jacquelin gained in confidence and his game began to flourish. Two years later he won the 2007 BMW Asian Open, a co-sanctioned event which is hosted in partnership with the Asian Tour. In 2011 Jacquelin was victorious again on European soil, winning the Sicilian Open by a single stroke over England's Anthony Wall.

On Sunday, Jacquelin won his fourth event on the European Tour when he held his nerve in a three-way marathon playoff at the Spanish Open. After almost two hours of extra play the Frenchman edged out Germany's Maximillian Kieffer to lift the trophy – a testimony to Jacquelin's patience and dedication to the game of golf.

As Raphael Jacquelin continues his successful career in European golf, he provides a great example of the success that can be created by hard work and commitment to the game.

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