LOS ANGELES – An impeccable short game gave Mike Weir a seven-shot lead. He had to rely on it again to spare him an ignominious collapse Sunday in the Nissan Open.

Weir staved off a late charge by Shigeki Maruyama, nearly holing out a chip from the grassy hill above the 18th green at Riviera to save par for a one-shot victory, making him the first repeat winner of the Nissan Open in nine years.

“That’s a good way to end it,” Weir said.

He closed with an even-par 71, avoiding a playoff only when Maruyama’s 12-foot par putt slid by on the right side.

The Canadian became the sixth repeat champion at Riviera, finishing at 17-under 267.

He could have done without the drama.

Weir was seven shots clear of Maruyama when he chipped in for birdie on No. 3, and still had a five-shot lead when he made the turn. But a two-shot swing on the 10th – a bogey by Weir, a birdie by Maruyama – changed everything.

Weir won $864,000 for his seventh career victory. It was the first time in six tries he had won on the PGA Tour when leading going into the final round.

Thongchai Jaidee wins rain-soaked Malaysian

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Thongchai Jaidee shot a 4-under 68 in the final round Sunday to win the Malaysian Open, becoming the first player from Thailand to win a European PGA event.

Thongchai, a former paratrooper, made a hole in one on the 188-yard 16th hole and finished at 14-under 274, two strokes ahead of Australian Brad Kennedy.

Heavy rain on Friday and Saturday forced the two final rounds to be played Sunday.

Thongchai also won the Myanmar Open on the Asian Tour last week. The Malaysian Open is jointly sponsored by the Asian and European PGAs.

McNulty wins first event on Champions Tour

LUTZ, Fla. – Mark McNulty became the 11th golfer to win his first Champions Tour event, shooting a 69 Sunday to claim the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

McNulty twice postponed his planned debut on the tour for players over 50 because of a bout with shingles five weeks ago.

He finished at 13 under par and beat Larry Nelson by one stroke.

“Obviously it’s a dream come true,” McNulty said. “And to win so quickly is an added bonus. I really enjoyed it.

McNulty had the comfort of a three-shot lead when he arrived at the 18th hole and made a bogey while Nelson birdied. Nelson shot a final-round 69.

Fuzzy Zoeller, who began the day nine shots back, made 11 birdies – seven in a row – and flirted with a 59 before shooting 61 after a bogey on the 18th.

Zoeller finished 11 under and tied with Tom Purtzer for third.

McNulty, a native of Zimbabwe who lives outside of London and has Irish citizenship, arrived on the Champions Tour with 55 worldwide titles. But he had no victories in the United States until Sunday.

“This victory ranks high because, even though it’s the Champions Tour, that’s still a big deal,” McNulty said. “It’s my first win in America and I will enjoy it.”