The 34 year-old finished five shots behind winner Nick Dougherty but was delighted to have secured a fourth top 10 of the year which gets him into this week's French Open.
"I'm over the moon to finish in a share of fourth and to also get into the French Open," he said. "I wasn't into France coming here to Germany and I knew I had to be top 10, so to come here and achieve that goal is extra pleasing."
He had started the day tied with Dougherty three strokes behind Retief Goosen but a slow start with just one birdie in the first 12 holes meant he was never in real contention for his maiden victory.
However, birdies at 13,16 and the last hauled him back up the leaderboard and into a tie with Graham Storm, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Felipe Aguilar. Goosen had to settle for third, three adrift of Argentine Rafa Echenique.
"I played nicely with just a couple of loose shots, but I putted poorly," he admitted. "Two birdies in the last three holes was a nice way to get into the French Open, so I am delighted knowing now that I am playing the French and the Scottish Opens leading into Turnberry."
His Munich winnings of 78,700 euros lifted him to 43rd place in the Race to Dubai money list with earnings of 358,883 euros.
He has already had a second place finish in Andalucia, a third in the Jo'burg Open, a tie for ninth in Madeira and a tie for 13th in the European Open.
Last month he also qualified for his first major championship when he came though international final qualifying at Sunningdale, although he did play in the 1992 Open at Muirfield when he was still an amateur when he acted as a marker for John Daly.