Associated Press
Tuesday, September 26

DALLAS -- Just call Larry Nelson "Senior Tiger." He's dominating the Senior Tour like Tiger Woods controls the regular tour.

The hottest player on the Senior Tour the last six months overcame a chilly Texas norther and light rain Sunday to shoot a 4-under 68 and earn the Bank One Senior Championship by a stroke for his tour-best fifth victory of the year.

"I'm just hitting the right shots at the right time," said Nelson. "Today was my worst ball-striking in a month, but I came up with some big putts when I needed them."

The statement sounded a lot like Woods explaining his dominance.

Nelson posted a 13-under 203 to take his third victory in his last four starts. It was his 24th consecutive subpar round, and the $210,000 paycheck put him on top of the money list with $2,271,555, his finest financial season ever.

"I would like to be the player of the year, and I'll play in five or six more tournaments and we'll see what happens," Nelson said. "All I know is the IRS is sending me thank you notes every week. If I decide to take two weeks off I imagine they'll send me a note telling me to get well soon."

Club pro Bill Brask birdied the last hole for a 70 to finish second with a 204 total along with Jim Thorpe, who also shot a 2-under 70.

It was Nelson's 10th career Senior Tour win, tying Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Al Geiberger. He has finished second six times this year..

Nelson took the lead for good with a breaking 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5, 544-yard 16th and made two rock-solid pars on the tough last two holes. He called his 7-footer for par on the 180-yard par-3 17th his best putt of the week.

Defending champion Tom Watson, who shot a course-record 62 to win here last year, put on a strong charge in the British Open-type weather but fell just short with a 67 for a 205 and a tie with Gil Morgan, who shot a 73.

There was a 50-degree difference on the comfort index for the players. On Saturday the heat index was 102 degrees, but after an overnight norther swept through the Bent Tree Country Club, the wind-chill factor dipped to 50 degrees. The temperature hovered at 63 degrees with winds gusting to 25 mph, forcing players to break out sweaters and wind-breakers.

Dallas had gone 84 consecutive days without rain until the showers hit around midnight. Light rain fell throughout the day.

"Today was really refreshing," Nelson said. "The heat kind of surprised me the first two days."

Bob Murphy, who had a two-shot lead after 36 holes, couldn't handle the cold and shot a 76 in his attempt to win a tournament for the first time in three years.

This was the last year for the tournament in Dallas. Tour officials are considering the area for the Senior Tour Championship at a future date.