South Africa’s Retief Goosen, who is looking for his second win of the year, was tied with two Americans for the lead after the third round of the US$7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship on Sunday.
Goosen shot a three-under 68 to move to 13-under 200 and a share of the overall lead with Steve Stricker (65) and Sean O’Hair (70).
The crowded leaderboard features nine players within three shots of the leaders, including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (67) and Aussie John Senden (70).
PHOTO: AFP
Goosen had a chance to take sole possession of first place, but his approach at the par-five 18 caught the bunker and he had to settle for a par.
Harrington is in a three-way tie at 12-under 201 with Kevin Na (66) and Scott Verplank (68).
Americans Jerry Kelly (67) and Kevin Sutherland (69) are two shots back of the leaders at 11-under 202.
Tiger Woods, frustrated by poor putting, failed to mount a charge by shooting a one-over 72. He is nine shots behind Goosen. Woods, who hit his first tee shot into the trees on Sunday, would fall out of first place in the FedEx Cup standings if Stricker wins the tournament.
■CANADIAN OPEN
AFP, CALGARY, CANADA
Suzann Pettersen captured her first win of the year and her sixth LPGA Tour victory by shooting a one-under 70 in the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open on Sunday.
Norway’s Pettersen finished with a 15-under 269 total to place five strokes ahead of five others, including Japan’s Momoko Ueda (65) and Ai Miyazato (67).
Pettersen, who took home US$412,000 for first place, posted her first win in two years. She had a breakout season in 2007 with five victories.
Her round featured five birdies including three straight to begin the back nine on Sunday. She made bogey on the next two holes before finishing with five consecutive pars.
Ueda mounted a Sunday charge but still finished five shots back of Pettersen.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng was a distant 16 srokes off the winner after firing a 78 on Sunday.
■EUROPEAN MASTERS
REUTERS, CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, SWITZERLAND
Sweden’s Alex Noren held off a determined challenge from Britain’s former winner Bradley Dredge to claim his maiden title at the European Masters on Sunday.
A closing five-under-par 66 for a 20-under 264 total left Noren two strokes better than 2006 Swiss champion Dredge (65).
Noren earned US$471,000 for his victory and also picked up the maximum 333,330 points in Europe’s first Ryder Cup counting event of a year-long campaign.
“I’ve got to stay there now,” Noren told reporters, “I always thought about playing one day [in the Ryder Cup], but I didn’t know a win would come so soon.”
The win ended a worrying spell for Noren, who has had wrist and knee injuries.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
RSS