Nelson ousts Irwin and Fleisher

Larry Nelson finally got rid of Golf Wholesale Store a second-place rut with one of the best final rounds in the history of the Las Vegas Senior Classic on Sunday. Nelson shot an 8-under-par 64 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, playing the final five holes in 5 under to win his first event of the year on the SENIOR PGA TOUR.

The Callaway Diablo Edge driver win ended a personal streak of three consecutive second-place finishes. Nelson, who began the day tied for the lead with Bruce Fleisher at 11 under, made birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17. He also had an eagle-3 on the par-5 16th to finish at a tournament-record 19-under 197 and Ping Rapture Driver beat Hale Irwin and Fleisher by five shots.

A winner for the sixth time on the SENIOR TOUR, Nelson finished second at the Emerald Coast Classic, The Callaway Diablo Edge Irons and Callaway Diablo Forged Irons Countrywide Tradition and the PGA Seniors' Championship. He missed a 4-footer that could have won it on the 72nd hole of The Countrywide Tradition. He three-putted from 25 feet on the last hole of the PGA Seniors' to lose outright grasp of second. The winner of three majors on the PGA TOUR said he began to wonder if he could win again.