CARNOUSTIE, Scotland » Bernhard Langer won his first senior major title yesterday, holding off a final-round challenge from Corey Pavin for a one-stroke win in the Senior British Open.

The German shot a 1-over 72 at Carnoustie to finish at 5-under 279. Pavin ended with a 1-under 70.

"I have always wanted to win the British Open," Langer said. "I didn’t. Now this is the next best thing."

Pavin, the American Ryder Cup captain, trailed by three shots at the start of the fourth round, but cut the gap to two when he birdied his second hole of the day.

Langer survived three-putting both the 8th and 9th greens. After making birdie at 15, he parred his way to his 11th win in three years on the Champions Tour.

"This victory ranks very high and it’s pretty close to my two U.S. Masters titles and some of my Ryder Cup stuff," Langer said.

Pavin finished three strokes ahead of Americans Fred Funk, Jay Don Blake and Russ Cochran and Australian Peter Senior.

"It’s tough when you almost win," Pavin said. "Bernhard didn’t play his best golf today, but he did what he needed to do and that’s what it’s all about."

Shin’s birdie finish nets win

Jiyai Shin of South Korea birdied the 18th hole to win the Evian Masters, shooting a 5-under 67 to finish at 14 under and one stroke ahead of Morgan Pressel, Na Yeon Choi and Alexis Thompson in Evian-les-Bains, France.

Shin’s fifth birdie in the final round put her one stroke clear of overnight leader Pressel, whose putt to force a playoff then rolled agonizingly over the hole without dropping in.

Michelle Wie of Hawaii closed with a 71 to tie for 31st, 12 strokes back.