Spaniard veteran sizzles, claims another major crown
Two strokes down after playing partner Alker birdied the par-5 16th, Jimenez made a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 17th and an 18-footer on the par-4 18th.
"I knew I had to make birdie-birdie to have any chance," Jimenez said.
"I make birdie on the 17th, gives you wings to go to 18th, and then the rest is history."
Tied for the lead entering Sunday's third and final round at Firestone South, the 61-year-old Jimenez and 53-year-old Kiwi Alker each shot two-under 68s to finish at 10-under 270 in the major championship.
They each parred the 18th on the first playoff hole, with Jimenez missing an 18-foot birdie try and Alker holing a three-and-a-half footer to send it back to tee for a second extra hole.
Before Jimenez's winning putt, Alker missed a 20-foot birdie try after a recovery shot from the trees right of the fairway.
Jimenez won his third major title after taking the Regions Tradition and the Senior British Open — both in 2018 — and earned a spot next year in The Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass. The Spanish star has 17 career victories on 50-and-over tour.
"It's very special," Jimenez said.
"I win here and put my name beside of all the great names through the history of the golf tournaments here on this beautiful golf course.
"Amazing that my game is still nice ... I hope it's not the last one."
Jimenez beat Alker by two strokes in the Trophy Hassan II in February in Morocco, then won the Hoag Classic in March in Newport Beach, California, and the Principal Charity Classic in a playoff three weeks ago in Des Moines, Iowa.
Stewart Cink (66) was third at eight under and fellow American Steve Flesch (65) was another stroke adrift.
Australian's Richard Green (72) and Michael Wright (73) tied for seventh at three under, while compatriots Mark Hensby (71) and Steve Allan (69) also enjoyed top-20 finishes.
The US Senior Open begins on Thursday at the Broadmoor in Colorado.
With AAP.
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