BLAINE, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Hale Irwin cruised to his third title of the season and 35th on the Senior PGA Tour on Sunday, carding a 4-under-par 68 for a three-stroke victory at the 3M Championship.

Irwin began the day in a tie for the lead with club pro James Mason, but birdied the second and third holes to help pull away on a bogey-free day at the TPC of the Twin Cities.

The winningest golfer in Senior Tour history, Irwin finished the 54-hole tournament at 12-under 204, good enough for his first title since March. He had lost a pair of playoffs in his previous three starts.

"This is certainly one of the events you really want to win," said Irwin, who went over the $22 million mark in career earnings. "There's great support by fans and the community and how we're treated. That means a lot."

Hubert Green, who last week defeated Irwin in a seven-hole playoff, shot a 67 to finish alone at 9-under 207. Doug Tewell also carded a 67 and tied Mason for third at 8-under 208.

"Hale doesn't have reverse in his machine," said Green, meaning he was in trouble once Irwin got sole possession of the lead. "I didn't start off well today."

Mason bogeyed the seventh, eighth and 13th holes as his bid for a second career title hit a roadblock. He carded a 72, sinking a birdie at the 18th hole to salvage a tie for third.

Allen Doyle and Bob Gilder shared fifth at 209.

Irwin, who has 81 top-three finishes in 175 career starts on the Senior Tour, extended his lead over Tewell to 809 points in the year-long battle for the Charles Schwab Cup.

He increased his 2002 official earnings to $2,124,206, the sixth straight year he has gone over $2 million. Sunday's 68 marked Irwin's 13th consecutive round under par.

The victory was extra special for Irwin because he had his son, Steve, in town to caddy.

"I believe in being as good as I can be," said Irwin, who has a remarkable 16 top-10 finishes in 19 starts this year. "I take great pride in achieving and take great pride in my accomplishments. The big difference this week and last was my putting came around this week."

Irwin avoided a bad start by holing a seven-foot putt on the first hole, then sank birdie putts of 25 and four feet on the next two holes. He settled into a groove, parring the next seven holes to make the turn at 2-under.

"The par on the first hole was crucial," Irwin said. "I didn't want to lose ground early."

Irwin holed an 8-footer for birdie on No. 10, then pitched to within six feet on the par-5 12th for his fourth and final birdie.

"I made a very big birdie on No. 10," he said. "I got a lot of help from my son."

Irwin was not about to relinquish the lead, although he had to make a nine-footer for par on No. 15. With the victory already assured, he closed out the win by holing an eight-footer for par on No. 18.

"I didn't want to make a bogey on No. 18," Irwin said. "I didn't want to finish that way."

Green birdied Nos. 3 and 9 on the front to also make the turn at 2-under. He added another birdie on No. 11, but recorded his only bogey on No. 14. Green also missed an opportunity when he three-putted the par-5 12th after reaching the green in two.

Three birdies on the final four holes were not enough to catch Irwin.

"The three-putt at No. 12 and the bogey at No. 14 really hurt," said Green, who began the day four shots behind Irwin. "I won't play at next week's PGA Championship."