Ernie Els blew an eight-shot lead but hung on to win the Heineken Classic by a stroke after a gripping head-to-head with Adam Scott.
World number three Els, who began the day with a seemingly insurmountable eight-shot cushion, carded a two-over-par 74 to finish on 20-under 268 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club on Sunday.
Australia's Scott had edged to within a stroke of the lead when he made a 35-foot birdie putt at the par-four 17th, where Els parred.
South African Els narrowly missed his 40-foot birdie putt at the last and tapped in for par, leaving Scott with a 20-footer for birdie to take the tournament into a playoff.
"I thought I was going to make it. It was right on line. I just didn't hit it hard enough," said 23-year-old Scott, a winner on the European Tour in each of the last three years but yet to break his duck on Australian soil.
Scott, who shot 34 on the front nine to draw level with Els who struggled to a six-over-par 42, closed with a 33 on the inward nine, his final-round 67 leaving him at 19-under-par 269.
Australia's Peter Fowler, 44, an Australian Open winner 21 years ago, returned a 70 for third place at 15-under 273.
Sweden's Peter Hanson fired a 71 to secure fourth while New Zealand's Michael Campbell, a two-times winner of the Heineken Classic, carded a 70 to tie for fifth with Briton Stephen Gallacher (70) at 13-under 275.
Els, 34, became the first player to win the $1.54 million (830,000 pounds) event for three successive years.