If Rory McIlroy goes on to achieve all that many people think he can in the game of golf then the 2008 Omega European Masters will be given just a passing mention.

But the way he lost the title to Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin -

460th in the world - in Switzerland will be hard for the Northern Irish 19-year-old to get out of his mind for a while.

McIlroy, one ahead with one to play, stood over a five-foot putt with the chance to become the third youngest winner in European Tour history - and the only teenager in the world's top 100.

He missed it, though, and come the second play-off hole he missed from barely 18 inches on the same green to hand Lucquin the title on a plate.

"Obviously I'm very disappointed," said McIlroy, who had been four clear with a round to play, but after bogeys at the second and third suddenly found himself one behind and then down to fourth place at one point.

"But I can take a lot from this week.

"I came here after three missed cuts in a row and found a bit of form. I played well all week, but it would have been nice to go home with the trophy.

"I have plenty more tournaments even this year. It would be great to get a win this year, but if not I have the rest of my career."

McIlroy, top amateur at last year's Open, argued that Lucquin's 12-foot birdie putt to win eased the blow somewhat.

But it was made 10 times easier by the fact the teenager's tiny miss had left him two for it.

Lucquin, who won £268,000 to McIlroy's £178,000, had earlier been delighted to clinch second place, knowing it secured his place on the circuit for another year.

But suddenly he was the champion with a two-year exemption and a first victory to his name in 175 attempts.

The 29-year-old, moving up from 127th to 44th on the Order of Merit, commented: "I have no words to explain what I am feeling.

"I don't know what happened on the second [play-off] hole. He asked if he could finish, I said that was okay and he missed it.

"That made it easier for me. It's unbelievable and when I saw my wife and little boy it was a dream."

Throughout his glittering amateur career McIlroy was always being compared to England's Oliver Fisher. Now they have something else in common.

At the Andalucian Open in March, Fisher, also 19, stood on the final tee one ahead, but his tee shot ran through the fairway into water, a bogey dropped him into a play-off and he lost it.

The winner that day was a Frenchman as well, Thomas Levet.

Two teenagers winning in the same season would have been something special.

Since Fisher turns 20 this Saturday his chance has now gone, but McIlroy still has until next May to join the five who have done it - South African Dale Hayes, Spaniards Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia, England's Paul Way and Australian Aaron Baddeley.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, the only member of next week's Ryder Cup side who took part in the event, finished joint third with Scot Gary Orr, Swiss player Julien Clement and another Frenchman, Christian Cevaer.

But Jimenez will need to putt better at Valhalla than he did at Crans-sur-Sierre.

"I had a nightmare," he conceded. "There are 14 clubs in the bag and one of them, I don't like him."