TIMONIUM, Md. — Jay Haas took advantage of Tom Watson's uncharacteristic bogeys and passive play to steal the final Champions Tour major of the year.

Haas charged past Watson to win the Senior Players Championship by a stroke, birdieing the 18th hole yesterday to match the course record with a 6-under 64.

"All day, I was right there," Haas said. "I missed some very makable putts on the front nine, and I was very disappointed in that. But I felt like I was going to get some more, the way I was hitting it and the way I felt today. I had a nice calm about me and Tom didn't go nuts behind me and shoot 3 or 4 or 5 under himself."

Watson, 60, was trying to become the oldest major winner on the 50-and-over tour. But after making only one bogey in the first three rounds at Baltimore Country Club, he had three in the final round en route to a 70.

"I didn't play with the type of aggressiveness I needed to play today," said Watson, who started the day with a four-stroke lead. "I played tentative golf. I made a couple of putts, but I hit some wayward shots and didn't have a feel for the distance today."

Haas finished at 13-under 267 for his third senior major title. He has 14 career Champions Tour victories.

"From tee to green, I could not play better," he said. "Under the conditions and under the circumstances, a major tournament on a championship golf course, that was the best I got."

Haas took advantage of a well-placed 6-iron from 195 yards on his second shot on the par-4 18th hole. His shot dropped on the right side of the green, then rolled within 3 feet of the cup for an easy birdie.

Watson missed the fairway on 18, ending any hopes he could catch Haas.

ELSEWHERE

PGA Tour: Matt Kuchar and Vaughn Taylor were tied after two holes in a sudden-death playoff at the Turning Stone Resort Championship when play was suspended because of darkness, forcing a Monday finish at Verona, N.Y. Taylor (66) and Kuchar (69) finish tied at 17-under 271.

European PGA Tour: England's Luke Donald shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and England's Simon Dyson after the third round of the weather-delayed Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland. Donald has a 15-under 201 total.

Nationwide Tour: Jerod Turner won the Soboba Classic for his first Nationwide Tour title, birdieing the final hole for a 2-under 69 and a two-stroke victory over Derek Lamely at San Jacinto, Calif. Turner finished at 15-under 269.

U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship: Nathan Smith and Mike McCoy shared medallist honors, finishing two rounds of stroke-play qualifying with 3-under 140 totals at Kiawah Island, S.C. Hilo's Chris Igawa (70—147) made the cut of 149 to qualify for match play in the tournament for players 25 and older.

U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship: Mina Hardin, Laura Ladden, Jennifer Lucas and Meghan Stasi shared medallist honors, finishing two rounds of stroke-play qualifying with 2-over 146 totals at Ocala, Fla. Maui's Desiree Ting (81—160) made the cut of 161 to qualify for match play in the tournament for players 25 and older.