Jean-Francois Lucquin foiled Rory McIlroy's hopes of a maiden European tour title with a dramatic play-off win at the European Masters in Switzerland.

Lucquin, from France, rolled in a birdie at the second extra hole after McIlroy missed a short putt for par.

They had finished level on 13-under-par after Lucquin carded a 67 and McIlroy bogeyed the last for a 71.

"Obviously I'm very disappointed but I can take a lot from this week," said the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland.

McIlroy had two putts of victory on the 18th green, the first at the end of his final round and then a longer chance on the first extra hole, but missed both.

"I came here after three missed cuts in a row and found a bit of form. It would be great to get a win this year, but if not, I have the rest of my career."

He added: "I was very unlucky on the 18th in regulation, where it got a pretty big bounce for a sand wedge.

"I hit a good chip, but not a very good putt. Then second time round in the play-off it didn't really matter as he holed his."

McIlroy headed the field by four strokes at the start of the final round.

But he saw his lead disappear in next to no time as he dropped two shots in the first three holes and Spain's Alejandro Canizares, the son of former Ryder Cup player Jose Maria, holed three birdies in his first five.

McIlroy, who was bidding to become the third youngest winner in European tour history, recovered his poise after a three at the par-four 5th.

It soon became anyone's guess as to who would take the title at Crans-sur-Sierre as the field bunched up near the top of the leaderboard.

A birdie at the 12th kept McIlroy in the mix and he moved out in front again on 14-under after a four at the long 15th.

Canizares faded over the back nine and it was Lucquin who posed the main threat after sinking a tough putt for his four at the 18th to complete a bogey-free round, which prompted him to punch the air several times as if he had already won the tournament.

The title was still McIlroy's for the taking, however, but a heavy chip from the back fringe of the green led to him missing a five-footer for victory.

The teenager had another chance when they played the 18th again, but his 15-foot effort for a birdie just missed the hole on the left.

The pair returned to the tee and after Lucquin had safely found the centre of the fairway, McIlroy pulled his drive into the left-hand rough.

He was unable to threaten the pin with his approach but his miss from close range for a par-four was unexpected, and it left Lucquin with two putts for the title.

The 29-year-old only needed one as he became the second successive French winner on tour, following Gregory Havret's success at Gleneagles last weekend.

"I have no words to explain what I am feeling," he commented.

Scotland's Gary Orr shared third place with Miguel Angel Jimenez, Christian Cevaer and Swiss hope Julien Clement on 12-under after finishing the tournament with a round of 67.