Graeme McDowell became the first player since 2005 to win back-to-back French Opens following a drama-filled final round at Le Golf National.
The 34-year-old, who became the first Northern Irishman to win the tournament last year, on Sunday overturned an eight-stroke deficit as overnight leader Kevin Stadler of the United States missed a two-foot putt on the 18th green that would have sent the two players to a playoff.
"I have to say halfway through my second glass of red wine last night I was very disappointed with my back nine on Saturday and I really didn't think, A, I'd be standing here with a chance to be in a playoff and, B, with a trophy in my hand," McDowell said.
"I feel very fortunate, Kevin Stadler is a great, great player, I literally gave him that putt on the last green. I really didn't think he'd miss that, it's not really the way you'd like to win and I was ready for the playoff but I'll take it and run."
McDowell is the first player since Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy in 2004 and 2005 to successfully defend his crown and the 11th in the history of the tournament which was founded in 1906.
McDowell stroked in five birdies in the day's outstanding round but his only bogey at the 18th left him tied with Stadler on five-under.
The American then reached the par-four 18th in two shots before three putting from 25 feet to see the tournament slip from his grasp after leading from day one.
Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee overcame a terrible start of his own, which left him five-over for the day after just four holes to bounce back with four birdies and finish joint second on four-under with Stadler.
Sweden's Robert Karlsson was alone in third on three-under, one better than Englishman Matthew Baldwin and Jamie Donaldson of Wales.
Australian Wade Ormsby was alone in eighth, and 11th in the field, after finishing two-over.
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