LUTZ, Fla. (AP) – Nick Price won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am for his first Champions Tour victory Sunday, overcoming three double bogeys in an up-and-down final-round 71.

After a par putt on the 18th hole, Price finished with a two-shot victory over Larry Nelson to end an 0-for-38 streak on the Champions Tour and win his first title since the 2002 MasterCard Colonial, a span of 111 tour events.

The 52-year-old Price overcame the double bogeys with seven birdies to shoot even par and finish at 9-under 204. Nelson finished with a 70 on the TPC Tampa Bay.

Price, from Zimbabwe, is a three-time major champion. He called his final round one of the strangest he has ever played.

“I’ve never played golf like that in my life, to have three bogeys and to have three solid pars on the last three holes really helped,” Price said. “I really felt like I was playing well, but if you take those three double bogeys out of the equation, then it looks like a better round. I never play like that. Ever.”

Price birdied Nos. 13-15 to get back to 9 under and regain his confidence. Nelson hurt his chances with four bogeys on the back nine.

“I am absolutely spent and done,” Price said. “I am absolutely dumbfounded by this round. I might make some bogeys, but not three double bogeys like that. … It supposed to be easier when you get older, but that, without a doubt, is the toughest win I’ve ever had.”

Price hit into the water on two of his three double bogeys. He said he lost concentration on the first one, but couldn’t quite put a finger on the other two.

“I need to regroup the next couple of days,” Price said.

Loren Roberts (67), Lonnie Nielsen (70) and Hal Sutton (69) tied for third at 6 under, and Jay Haas (72) was 5 under.

Two-time defending champion Tom Watson shot a 72 to finish at 4 over. He had hip replacement surgery Oct. 2.

AP-ES-04-19-09 1908EDT

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