Bernhard Langer beat the clock and his chasing rivals to take his fourth Linde German Masters title.
Notoriously precise, yet often laborious in his play, Langer was warned by referee John Paramor to get a move on if he didn't want to be penalised a shot in the closing stages of the tournament at Gut Larchenhof, near Cologne.
But he kept his nerve and his patience as Paramor followed him on a buggy, stopwatch in hand, to emerge victorious in front of his home fans, with a closing, five under par 67.
His 22 under par total - despite a bogey five at the last - was just one shot clear of Freddie Jacobson of Sweden and the charging American John Daly who finished with 67 and 65 respectively.
Langer found trouble at the 17th, where he had to play from the edge of a water hazard but salvaged his par, and the 18th where he two putted from a greenside bunker. But it was just enough to claim the £278,000 first prize.
Jacobson had closed the overnight deficit with an eagle at the fifth, but Langer ground out the necessary pars and birdies to keep his nose in front.
Daly, who won in Munich last month, looked a big threat when he chipped in for eagle at the 13th to get to -19, and added two more birdies coming home.
But the German was always just out of reach and when Daly left his final 20 foot birdie attempt short at the last, it ended his fading hopes.
Jacobson, a 27-year-old yet to win on Tour, kept plugging away but he too left his final effort shy of the cup, with a chance to force a playoff.
Greg Owen finished tied fourth on -19, alongside veteran Roger Chapman, after respective rounds of 69 and 66.
