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The 43-year-old, who started the final round six off the pace, picked up five shots in the first five holes at the Tucson National Golf Resort and Spa before finishing on 22-under 266.

Compatriot Jerry Kelly fired a 65 to secure second place. Overnight leader Duffy Waldorf (72) fell back into a tie for third at 19 under with 2004 winner Heath Slocum (68) and Bubba Watson (70).

"That round just came out of nowhere," a beaming Triplett told reporters after a dramatic finish that included a chip-in for birdie on 17.

"I made some great putts out there today. I had the rhythm and the feel the whole way round."

Triplett, who mixed 10 birdies with a bogey in a red-hot display, missed the green with a five-iron at the par-three 17th before holing his chip from the fringe some 50 feet away.

"The moment I hit it, I knew it had perfect speed," he said. "It turned out to be the perfect line, too."

Triplett clinched the third PGA Tour victory of his career, following the 2000 Nissan Open and the 2003 Rene-Tahoe Open.

His 63 was the lowest final round by a champion in Tucson since Johnny Miller's 61 in 1975.

Former winner Gabriel Hjertstedt of Sweden closed with a 70 to tie for ninth at 16 under.

Britain's Justin Rose, playing his fifth U.S. event of the season, fired an eight-birdie 64 to rocket up the leaderboard into a share of 18th place at 14 under.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Carlsbad, California)

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