Colin Montgomerie emerged from a mini-crisis to win the One 2 One British Masters at Marriott Forest of Arden by a shot.
Montgomerie, who has been first once and second three times in his last four visits to the Warwickshire course, edged out Swede Pierre Fulke and Argentina's Eduardo Romero, returning a closing 69 for a seven-under-par total of 281.
"I made the right decision three weeks ago when I called Bill Ferguson from Seattle," he said. "Instead of going to somebody else I went back to somebody who got me to No 2 in the world and one win away from No 1 in the world.
"I've hit more balls this last month and a half than I ever had and it's paid off and all credit to him. It's a delight that I can go on for the rest of the season with added confidence and knowing that I'm going to work hard for the rest of the season as well."
The £125,000 victory keeps him third in the Volvo Ranking but he now only trails leader Lee Westwood by £34,446 and second placed Darren Clarke by £26,050 with four events to go.
Fulke and Romero finished joint second on six under par after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.
Fulke said: "I've played really consistent all year and wanted a top five finish. Today was pretty solid and my chipping and putting was good."
Romero has been fighting a bad back all week but after treatment in the 3M Physio Unit made his best finish of the year. "I chipped fantastic," he said. "Chipped in at 10 and 11 and nearly holed one on 18. My chipping is better than my putting."
A shot further back, sharing fourth place with overnight leader Paolo Quirici and Ignacio Garrido, was Andrew Oldcorn, who shot a final round of 68 to finish on five under par but more importantly secured his Tour card for next season.
"I'm over the moon," he said. "The pressure I was under today was incredible. I had a different agenda to everybody today. I was playing for my survival for next year.
The four shot penalty Garrido received for carrying 15 clubs in his bag during the second round rather than the regulation 14 ultimatley cost him the title.
"I still felt I could win after taking that four stroke penalty on Friday," he said. "I had to forget it and put it in the past. I did well to get really close. Unfortunately four shots was too big an advantage to give the rest."
