Golden oldie Miguel Angel Jimenez defeated rising English star Oliver Wilson in a dramatic play-off to lift the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The 44-year-old Spaniard etched his name in the record books by becoming the third oldest winner of the event following in the footsteps of Dai Rees (1959) and Arnold Palmer (1975).
Jimenez, whose magical day included a hole-in-one on the fifth, clinched the £600,000 first prize on the second extra play-off hole, courtesy of two putts after a sweetly struck three wood approach to the par five 18th. Wilson, second for the seventh time since turning pro in 2005, had missed a 10 footer for victory on the first play off hole.
But Wilson's disappointment was Jimenez's gain and he admitted it was the biggest win of his career.
"This is the most important tournament on the European Tour so it is great to win it," he said.
"Everything came from the first hole where I holed a putt for par. Everything happened very quickly after those first four or five holes. It changed everything but you still need to keep calm and stay focused."
The Spaniard also became the first man on tour to complete a hat-trick of BMW wins following his 2004 triumphs at the BMW Asian and BMW International Opens.
It also extended his record as the most prolific over 40s winner on the European Tour, taking his tally to eight.
Jimenez credited his experience with standing him in good stead during an absorbing final round in which Wilson and Robert Karlsson had chances for victory.
"Mentally I'm very nice, the game is good and I'm hitting the ball well," he said. "I'm 44 and with 20 years on tour under your belt you can just be relaxed and enjoy yourself."
Jimenez also paid tribute to Wilson and insists the 27-year-old's time will come.
"He's a good player who has been top of the leaderboard a lot and his first win will come, I just appreciate it didn't come today," said Jimenez.
A dramatic final day on the West Course ebbed and flowed but ultimately ended in a shootout after Jimenez and Wilson had tied at 11 under after both shot 68s.
Overnight leader Karlsson endured a torrid start, his four shot lead wiped out in five holes, but he recovered to grab a golden opportunity to join the play-off but missed a five foot putt on the last following a superb pitch.
His misery was compounded by seeing the return lip out, forcing him to sign for a 74 and a share of third with Luke Donald whose brilliant 65 was finished off in style with birdies on the final three holes.
Wilson meanwhile was left to rue a wayward driver on the final few holes that got him in trouble at 17 when he was 12 under. Forced to take a drop he surrendered a stroke back to Jimenez.
In the first play off hole Wilson's approach landed in the sand but a heavy-handed Jimenez struck his eagle putt racing past the hole to give Wilson a shot at the title but his 12 foot putt lipped out to send them back up 18 where another pushed drive handed the Spaniard an advantage which he gratefully seized.