Stadler Ends Dry Spell

Craig Stadler, who played the entire tournament with a new putter after losing the one he had used for two years, won the Nissan Open golf tournament in Los Angeles to end a two-year victory drought.

The rotund, bearded “Walrus” of the PGA Tour closed with a 3-under-par 68, then sweated out the finish in the locker room as his closest challengers came up short.

Stadler’s 6-under total of 278 at Riviera gave him a one-shot victory over former University of Southern California roommate Scott Simpson, two-time tournament winner Fred Couples, Mark Wiebe and Mark Brooks.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett finished at 2-over-par (69-70-75-72-286) and earned $8,340.

At Sarasota, Fla., Hale Irwin, playing all three rounds without a bogey, won the American Express Invitational seniors event, shooting an 8-under-par 64 and beating Bob Murphy by five strokes.