By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

BIRMINGHAM — The third time’s the charm.

Kenny Perry, 53, took his third Champions Tour major victory with a win in the 2014 Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek.

Perry shot even for the round and seven under for the tournament to take the win by one stroke over Mark Calvecchia. Perry also won the 2013 Senior Player Championship and the 2013 U.S. Senior Open Championship, making the Tradition his third-consecutive win in major tournaments.

“The golf course was incredible,” Perry said during the trophy presentation. “I just can thank everybody enough. I’m honored to be your champion.”

Perry opened the day with the lead, but Calvecchia appeared to challenge for the win until an apparent rib injury on the third hole hampered him the rest of the round. Calvecchia finished two under for the round with Perry left to play.

In the end, Perry simply needed to shoot par on the final hole to take the win. He set himself up with a driving second shot that placed the ball near the green and within putting distance.

Perry putted on the green to seal the win. Perry said the he hoped the win would “jump start” his season.

“I’ve been playing pretty pitiful (this year),” he said. “It’s pretty exciting, hopefully this will get me going in the right direction again.”

The Franklin, Ky., native said the close distance to Shoal Creek allowed his family to attend.

“My kids drove in,” he said. “We live about three-and-a-half hours from here. My son and his wife and my daughter and her husband and my two grandkids came to support me. I can’t thank them enough. It’s pretty special when you’ve got your family with you.”

Perry went on to say he hoped the win would give him momentum heading into the next tournament, the Senior PGA Open, held in Benton Harbor, MI.

“Hopefully next week at the Senior PGA, my goal is to get in the winner’s circle there,” he said. “This is definitely going to get in there with a lot of confidence.”