DEARBORN, Mich. — It was the best double bogey Bobby Wadkins ever made.

The 12-foot putt on the 72nd hole of the Ford Senior Players Championship gave Wadkins his first major title and a huge sense of relief.

After all, it was just a month ago that Phil Mickelson's double bogey on No. 18 cost him a chance to win the U.S. Open. But Jim Thorpe's three-putt bogey on the final hole at the TPC of Michigan allowed Wadkins to escape.

"Anyone who says they aren't feeling nerves at that state of the game is telling a lie," said Wadkins, who shot a 4-under 68 and was 14 under for the tournament. "The tournament should have been over, and I almost gave it away."

Wadkins, 54, was one stroke better than Thorpe, who shot a 69 and was the runner-up for a third time at the Senior Players.

On the par-4 18th, Wadkins drove it left into a marsh and had to take a drop. His third shot fell into a greenside bunker and his bunker shot flew over the green and hit a spectator on the hill. His fifth shot nearly went in and he sank the 12-footer coming back.