By MARY FOSTER
AP Golf Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Scott McCarron, displaying steady nerves and hitting solid shots in the heavy wind, became the third straight first-time PGA winner on Sunday, beating Tom Watson by five strokes in the $1.2 million Freeport-McDermott Classic.

McCarron, who started the day in first place at 12 under, had only two bogeys despite strong gusts and Watson threatening over the front nine. He finished at 13-under 275.

``I wasn't very nervous, I wasn't looking at the leader board until late,'' McCarron said. ``I just stuck to my game plan and took it one stroke at a time.''

Entering the tournament, McCarron's total earnings this year were $32,000. On Sunday, he won $216,000 and a spot in the Masters. ``That's what I was thinking about all the way up 18,'' McCarron said. ``I was glad about the money and the first win, but I was really thinking about playing at the Masters.''

Watson, winner of 32 tournaments, including eight majors, has not won since the 1987 Nabisco Championship.

``Losing takes its ounce of flesh,'' he said. ``Not a pound of flesh, just an ounce.''

Watson was two strokes behind McCarron at the start of play. He closed within one stroke only to find big trouble on the back nine with four bogeys to finish in second place at 280.

``It's a cruel game at times,'' Watson said. ``I've had a lot of good times, maybe it's just evening out.''

Tommy Tolles finished third at 7-under after a bogey on No. 18.

McCarron, who's best finish previously was third place in last year's Las Vegas Invitational to keep his tour card, was unshakable over the front nine. He bogeyed No. 5, but got the stroke back with a birdie on the next hole.

``Those first holes were some of the toughest holes I ever played, going into the wind,'' McCarron said. ``Even-par on the front nine, the way it was playing, I was very, very happy with.''

The wind, steady at 30 mph and gusting to 40 mph, whipped up trouble for everyone. The average score was 76.

Defending champion Davis Love III began the day with a double bogey on the first hole and finished at 5-under 283 for six-way tie for fourth.

Watson played even over the front nine, offsetting a birdie on No. 4 with a bogey on No. 5, making a short putt then missing one. He had chances for birdies on 8, but the wind grabbed the ball, deflecting it a foot short of the hole, and on 9, but two-putted.

On the back nine Watson ran into trouble early, hitting into a bunker off the 10th tee. After chipping onto the fringe, the wind grabbed his first putt and Watson's bogey dropped him three shots back. He birdied No. 11, but hit his tee-shot on 12 into a bunker, chipped out, only to watch the ball run 35 feet past the hole, leaving him with his second bogey in three holes and dropping him to 9-under.

McCarron, in his second year on the tour, birdied No. 11 to go four shots ahead of Watson.

The short putt, Watson's nightmare, did him in again on No. 13 as a 3«-footer missed for the third bogey in four holes.

Watson continued to crumble on No. 14 missing a putt for par by an inch for a bogey. He played even over the next four holes and finished with a birdie.

McCarron picked up his second birdie on No. 11 to go five strokes ahead of the field, 13 under on the tournament.

``That's when I first looked at the leader board and saw that I had a few shots,'' McCarron said. ``It felt really good.''

Watson has played the New Orleans tournament 20 times, won twice and tied for second once, before it moved to the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

``It's special to know that I beat Tom Watson,'' McCarron said. ``I also feel bad about Tom playing nine years and he can't get that win. But he can do that next week.''