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 The wait is over, finally, for Miguel Angel Jimenez - the new Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion.
The evergreen Spaniard, who has been coming to Dubai for many years and twice finished runner-up, dug deep into experience to see off a determined challenge from Lee Westwood, beating the European number one on the third playoff hole at the Emirates Golf Club.
Both players finished 11-under-par 277 in regulation play and parred the first two playoff holes, the 18th. Westwood, looking a bit more sharper, missed a short put for a par on the third playoff hole - the ninth - while Jimenez made a perfect up and down to record his first victory on the European Tour first since the 2008 BMW PGA Championship.
Westwood had his chances, but missed championship-winning putts at the first two extra holes, while on both occasions Jimenez had to fight to stay in contention - with a 12-foot par putt the second time around keeping his title hopes alive.
Jimenez, who began the day holding a one-shot lead alongside Westwood, Alvaro Quiros and Thongchai Jaidee, missed a 10-foot birdie chance at the 72nd hole to card his own final round of 72.
"I feel so proud to win this trophy," Jimenez said. "I like the golf course, I like the ambience and I like the people and I am very happy. "I made a very good putt on the second hole of the play-off on the 18th that kept me going then I had a putt to win.
"My last win was in 2008 in the PGA and it proves the old guys like me can win," Jimenez, who has claimed nine of his 16 European titles in his 40s, and is the oldest player to win on the circuit since Mark O'Meara did so in Dubai at the age of 47, said. "All week I've been playing strong with a strong mind and with good support from my caddie. I have been coming to Dubai for many years and had a few chances to win and now I have it, I feel very pleased and very happy."
Asian number one Jaidee carded a one over par 73 final round to finish third by a shot after missing a two-foot birdie putt at the last.
Abu Dhabi champion Martin Kaymer (70) and Challenge Tour number one Edoardo Molinari (71) finished fourth at nine under par, with Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros a further shot adrift.
McIlroy produced a valiant defence of his maiden title but could only manage a 73, while Quiros needed to eagle at the last to earn a playoff but found the water and carded a final round 75.
Gregory Bourdy (68), 2007 champion Henrik Stenson (68) and 60 year-old-eight-time Major winner Tom Watson (68) completed the top ten at six under par.
After Westwood had briefly held a two shot lead midway through the front nine before shipping a double bogey, Jimenez and Quiros both moved one clear on the back nine.
But after back-to-back bogeys halted Quiros' challenge, Jimenez added a second birdie of the day at the 17th to set the clubhouse lead.
Needing a birdie at the last, Westwood aggressively drove the final green to set up his crucial fourth gain of the day after seeing a birdie chance lip out two holes earlier.
At the first playoff hole after driving the green over a lake, Westwood saw a curling ten foot birdie putt for the title stop on the edge of the cup, while Jimenez battled to save his par after his approach came within an inch of dropping into the water at the front of the green.
Jimenez again looked out of the hunt on the second playoff hole after an uncharacteristic wayward tee shot before hitting his third shot into the back bunker.
But with Westwood within inches after leaving an 18-foot putt for the title just short having again set himself up with another aggressive second shot approach into the par five, Jimenez held his nerve to hole a 12-foot par putt.
The playoff switched to the par-4 ninth and despite finding rough off the tee, and like Westwood failing to find the green in two, Jimenez converted his up and down to deny the Englishman claiming a win which would have lifted him to third in the world.
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