Miguel Angel Jiménez inhaled the sweet fragrance of victory for the second time this season by winning the Trophée Lancôme in spectacular style at Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche.
The 34-year-old Spaniard, who had lifted the Turespaña Masters Open Baleares in May, conjured up a stroke of sheer genius at the final hole of an absorbing final day in France.
Requiring a par three to overcome the cosmopolitan challenge of Americans Mark O'Meara and David Duval, Sweden’s Jarmo Sandelin and Kiwi Greg Turner, Jiménez indulged in a spot of show-boating.
He missed the green to the left, the ball finishing below the base of the grandstands from where O’Meara had failed to get up and down minutes earlier.
But, knowing that a bogey would result in the lottery of a five man play-off, Jiménez flopped his chip onto the green and into the hole for an amazing birdie two to secure the prestigious title.
That stupendous climax earned Jiménez a closing 69 and an 11-under-par total of 273, but even more significantly it propelled him to the top of the Ryder Cup standings and into fifth place in the Volvo Ranking.
It was his fourth European Tour title, but the first witnessed in the flesh by his wife, Monserrat. The thrilled champion said: "This win was very special because it’s the first time my wife has been at the course to see it.
"It is also very important for the Ryder Cup. It was nice to be at Valderrama as Seve’s vice-captain but it would be even nicer to be on the team next time."
The 29th Trophée Lancôme reached a memorable conclusion on a hole which truly sorted out the men from the boys.
Jiménez was never far from the lead after opening rounds of 67 and 70. His halfway 137 was matched by defending champion O’Meara, Colin Montgomerie and the remarkable young Spanish amateur, Sergio Garcia.
After three rounds Jiménez held a two stroke lead, but breathing down his neck were Montgomerie, O’Meara, Turner and Duval, a three-time winner in America this season but seeking his first triumph in Europe.
Also in the frame were a resurgent Nick Faldo and young Anthony Wall from London, a graduate of MacGregor Week in January, who produced a remarkable finish to secure his card for next season.
Wall, egged on by playing partners Duval and O’Meara, managed to get up and down at the final two holes for a 69 and 277 total for a share of seventh place and £22,000 to advance him to 102nd in the Volvo Ranking.
What Duval and O’Meara would have given for a similar finish! The two American visitors at various times in the afternoon either shared the lead with Jiménez or led on their own. But the fiendish 209 yard 18th proved their nemesis.
Duval’s tee shot splashed into the water guarding the green and a double bogey five left him with a 67 and 275, matching the total set earlier by Sandelin’s closing 63.
Then O’Meara, the reigning Masters and Open champion, came unstuck. He missed the green left and chipped to four feet, from where his putt slipped past the cup.
Turner, playing with Jiménez, made a safe par to share second place after watching the Spaniard’s glory chip. Jiménez admitted: "I made a good solid stance and I knew it was in the hole as soon as it hit the green".
Faldo surged back to form with a seven-birdie 65 for sixth place but Montgomerie’s last round 73 did not earn him enough money to return to the top of the Volvo Ranking.
Argentina’s José Coceres became the 74th Millionaire on the European Tour with £1,005,955 after finishing joint 18th.
