Nelson Stays Hot, Edges Aoki

Larry Nelson remains the player to beat on the Senior PGA Tour.

Nelson won for the sixth time in his last 10 Senior starts, defeating Isao Aoki of Japan by one stroke in the Royal Caribbean Classic at Key Biscayne, Fla.

“I don’t like using the word dominant,” Nelson said. “I don’t know what anyone else thinks of me, but I feel that if I play well enough, I can win a lot.”

Nelson, who earned $210,000, scored eight points in the final round at Crandon Park Golf Course to finish with 29 points under the Modified Stableford scoring format. In his only other start this year, Nelson won the MasterCard Championship two weeks ago in Hawaii.

Aoki missed a 10-foot eagle putt on the 18th that could have won the tournament. He scored 11 points in the final round.

Aoki began with a double bogey at the par-five first hole by missing a short putt and then whiffing on his subsequent tap-in.

Aoki seemed to be bothered by a crying baby as he stood over his par putt from about five feet. After missing that one, Aoki glared in the direction of the baby as he attempted his tap-in and barely grazed the putt.

The double bogey cost Aoki three points, but he played his way back into contention on the back nine. With four birdies, Aoki quickly made up ground, and he would have taken the lead had his eagle attempt on No. 18 dropped.

“I don’t blame the baby. I blame myself,” Aoki said. “Your mind has to be in more control. I tried for the eagle [on No. 18]. I hit a good putt, but not good enough.”

*

Michael Campbell of New Zealand won the Heineken Classic at Perth, Australia, for the second consecutive year, shooting an eight-under-par 64 for a five-stroke victory.

Campbell was four strokes behind after one hole of the final round. He had 11 birdies, one short of the European tour record, in a round that was one stroke short of the course record. He finished with a total of 18-under 270.

Countryman David Smail (66), eagled the last hole to take second from Australia’s Nick O’Hern.

Roger Wessels of South Africa was disqualified after tournament officials verified a claim that Wessels had incorrectly replaced his ball on the 18th green during Saturday’s third round.

*

Darren Clarke of Ireland had a bogey on the final hole but defeated Retief Goosen and Tjaart van der Waltby of South Africa by two strokes to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am tournament at Sun City, South Africa.

Clarke closed with a one-under 71, for a total of 14-under 274. On Friday, he set a course record with a 63 at Gary Player Country Club. Van der Waltby shot a 66. Goosen, who almost forced a playoff but missed a birdie putt on the final hole, shot a 69.