Loren Roberts had blown a five-stroke lead, and was watching Eduardo Romero line up a 30-foot putt on the first playoff hole yesterday to win the Senior British Open in Turnberry, Scotland.

Well short of the green in two, Roberts still had one thing going for him: his faith in his remarkable putting ability.

Roberts pitched to 12 feet, then Romero hit a poor first putt that left the Argentina star some 4 feet from the hole. Roberts made his putt and won the title when Romero missed.

"I made it more of a contest than I should have," said Roberts, who won the first three tournaments of the year on the Champions Tour.

"But the conditions were tough and I battled my swing today. But I never gave up and I have leaned on my putter for 25 years and I figured that, as long as I could get a look at a par putt, I would have a chance. And I did."

The two players went to the playoff after they finished tied at 6-under 274 at Turnberry. Roberts shot a 75 in the final round and Romero had a 71.

Romero knew he had blown a chance for the victory.

"He made a good putt and I missed a short one. Sometimes golf's like this," he said.

PAVIN WINS BY 2 SHOTS

Corey Pavin won his first PGA Tour title in 10 years yesterday, closing with a 3-under 67 yesterday for a two-stroke victory over Jerry Kelly in the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

The 46-year-old Pavin, whose last victory came in the 1996 Colonial, earned his 15th tour victory with precise putting and a timely eagle on the par-4 eighth when his 172-yard second shot bounced three times and rolled into the cup.

He finished with a 20-under 260 total. Kelly also closed with a 67.

Kane'ohe's Dean Wilson closed with a 63 to finish at 267.