Miguel Angel Jiménez lit his victory cigar once again.
In the final round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai with a Saturday finish, Jiménez edged Steven Alker on the second playoff hole in the PGA Tour Champions 2022 season opener.
Jiménez birdied the 18th hole to force the bonus golf then made par each time they replayed the 18th in the playoff, as Alker bogeyed it the second time through.
“It’s a nice way to start a season,” said Jiménez, who has won this event two times before. “It’s nice to be here, winning again in Hualalai. The golf course, I like it very much. The golf course is set up in beautiful condition this year.”
Bernhard Langer is the only other three-time winner of the tournament. Jiménez now has 11 Champions tour victories.
Alker had a birdie try on the first playoff hole that would have won it but he missed. “It was fun to get in position and have a chance,” he said.
Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames finished tied for third. David Toms was solo fifth. Ernie Els, who led after the second round, shot a 70 and ended up in a tie for sixth with Retief Goosen.
David Duval, making his Champions tour debut after turning 50 last November, shot a 72 Sunday and tied for 34th.
The Mitsubishi is a winners-only event from the previous season but this time around, they had winners from the last two years as well as senior major champions from the last five years, along with a few sponsor exemptions.
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