"It's unbelievable, I can't describe it," Langer said. "To win this big tournament after what I've been through and to make it 18 years in a row out here."
Langer pushed his tour victory record to 47, just over eight months after tearing his left Achilles playing pickleball. The German star won the season-ending event for the first time and extended his record as the tour's oldest winner.
Five strokes ahead of Alker after a front-nine 30, Langer found himself tied for the lead with Alker and Green on the final hole after a two-stroke swing on the 17th when Alker hit to inches for birdie and Langer scrambled for bogey.
On the par-5 18th, Langer drove left into trees, reached the green in three, and holed the long birdie putt. Alker hit his second shot over the green and left his chip short, then left a 12-footer to force a playoff short.
"Played good and then got a little unraveled there on the back nine and Steven Alker got going," Langer said. "I didn't see any of Richard Green's. Obviously, he must have played fantastic on the back nine, too."
Alker shot 66. Also the 2022 season champion, the New Zealander began the week second behind Ernie Els in the points race. Els tied for 13th at 7 under after a 67, leaving him second in the standings.
Green birdied the last two holes in a 65.