BIRMINGHAM, AL - MAY 20: Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain poses with the trophy and winners green bike after the Regions Tradition at Greystone Golf & Country Club on May 20, 2018 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

JIMENEZ RIDES OFF WITH FIRST SENIOR MAJOR

Miguel Angel Jimenez secured his first senior major with a three-shot victory at the Regions Tradition in Alabama.

The Spaniard birdied two of the last three holes to post a final round 70 at Greystone Golf & Country Club, and pull clear of Steve Stricker, Joe Durant and Gene Sauers.

Jimenez acknowledges the crowd after securing his first major title on the senior circuit
Jimenez acknowledges the crowd after securing his first major title on the senior circuit

Stricker, a dual winner on the Champions Tour this season, briefly shared the lead and matched Jimenez’s 70, while Durant and Sauers both carded closing 69s.

Beginning the day with a three-shot lead, Jimenez bogeyed the first, but bounced back with birdies at the fifth and seventh to post a front-nine 35. He lost his outright advantage with a bogey at the 10th, as Durant moved alongside him with three birdies in a four-hole stretch around the turn.

A tap-in birdie at the 13th saw Jimenez edge ahead, only for Stricker to also pick up a shot on the par five and drain a 20-footer at the next to join Durant one off the pace.

Jimenez responded to a bogey at the 15th by holing a 15-footer at the next, before seeing his lead doubled when Stricker failed to get up-and-down from a bunker to save par at the 17th.

Taking a two-shot cushion to the last, Jimenez found the par-five green in two and two-putted for birdie to finish the week on 19 under par and secure a fifth career victory on the Champions Tour.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer ended the week in 11th place after a closing 67. Paul Broadhurst was the top-placed Englishman in 16th, while Colin Montgomerie was 27th, 11 shots behind the winner.