Teenage New Zealand amateur Danny Lee won the Johnnie Walker Classic in dramatic fashion yesterday, making him one to watch in the coming months when he is expected to turn pro.
The South Korean-born 18-year-old from Rotorua birdied the last two holes at The Vines Resort to snatch a historic win by one stroke from overnight leader Ross McGowan of England, Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar.
Although he couldn’t claim the winner’s check of A$465,000 (US$300,000), Lee will become a hot commodity when he turns professional, a move which is expected to come after he plays at the US Masters in April.
McGowan, who led by two shots with five holes to play only to be pipped by the fast-finishing Lee, shot a final round 70 to share second place with Fujita (67) and Aguilar (68).
■NORTHERN TRUST
AFP, LOS ANGELES
Phil Mickelson wasted no time regaining the lead at the PGA Northern Trust Open, making an eagle on the opening hole for the second-straight day before putting the pedal down on the back nine.
Chased by a pack of former winners, defending champ Mickelson shook them off by seizing control on the back stretch with four straight birdies.
The 38-year-old lefthander finished with a nine-under 62 to grab a four-stroke lead after the third round of the US$6.3 million PGA event on Saturday.
Argentina’s Andres Romero is in second after shooting a six-under 65 for 201 on Saturday.
■ACE GROUP CLASSIC
AP, NAPLES, FLORIDA
Gene Jones shot a 70 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the ACE Group Classic.
Jone made a 15-foot birdie putt to get to 4-under 140 at TPC Treviso Bay. The 4-under total is the highest score to lead in Naples since the tournament’s second year in 1989. Loren Roberts, the 2006 winner, Don Pooley and James Mason are tied for second.
Pooley looked like he would end his day with the lead, but he bogeyed on No. 17, and double-bogeyed No. 18 after hitting his third shot in the water.
Jonas Vingegaard on Tuesday claimed the overall Vuelta a Espana lead while Jay Vine earned the stage 10 victory for his second triumph of the race. Two-time Tour de France winner Vingegaard overhauled Torstein Traen’s lead to head the general classification by 26 seconds from the Norwegian, with Joao Almeida third and trailing the Dane by 38 seconds. Vine put in an unmatchable performance on the final climb to finish ahead of Spanish Movistar riders Pablo Castrillo and Javier Romo. “Back in red, I’m happy with it, it’s a beautiful jersey,” Vingegaard said. “I’m happy with how the day went,
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a brief visit to Brazil on Friday with a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but despite the defeat, the team outshone their divisional rivals in the fight for the hearts and minds of Brazilian fans. In Sao Paulo for just the second-ever NFL game in the city, Chiefs players — especially quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were treated as major celebrities throughout their stay, turning Corinthians Arena into a scene reminiscent of the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium. Before kickoff, crowds of fans gathered around the Chiefs’ tunnel, eager to catch a
RIVALRY: Carlos Alcaraz lost his previous two matches against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, in the Australian Open quarter-finals this year and Paris Olympics final last year Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday dazzled at the US Open to make the semi-finals before Novak Djokovic of Serbia danced his way through to book a New York showdown with the Spaniard that would mark the latest chapter in their generational rivalry. Former champion Alcaraz produced yet another entertaining display at Flushing Meadows to dismantle 20th seed Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at a sunbathed Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his place in the last four without dropping a set this year. “Sometimes I play a shot that I should not play in that moment, but it’s the way I love
New Zealand stayed firm at their Eden Park fortress to claim an attritional 24-17 win over South Africa in a heavyweight clash between the world’s top two rugby sides yesterday. Under pressure after conceding a first-ever defeat on Argentine soil against the Pumas two weeks ago, the All Blacks responded with a performance of grit and discipline to stretch their unbeaten run at their Auckland stronghold to 51 matches. Two well-taken tries by Emoni Narawa and Will Jordan set up a 14-3 lead at halftime before Quinn Tupaea grabbed a third five-pointer for the hosts 13 minutes from time. Well-held for most of
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