By Jay Betsill
Henrik Stenson defended his DP World Tour Championship title with birdies on the last two holes on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The win at the European Tour’s season-ending event guaranteed that Stenson would finish second to Rory McIlroy in the European Tour Race to Dubai.
“It was such a great place for me to win here last year, so to come back and successfully defend is very pleasing,” Stenson said. “I’ll be back and try to make it three wins in a row next year.”
McIlroy, Victor Dubuisson and Justin Rose finished in a tie for second, two shots behind Stenson. The victory moved Stenson ahead of Adam Scott to No. 2 in the Official World Golf Rankings trailing only McIlroy. Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia round out the top five.
NOTES
— Nick Cullen, ranked No. 539 in the world, fired a 3-under 69 Sunday to win the Australian Masters by one shot over two-time defending champion Adam Scott at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne. Scott trailed by four strokes after three rounds and saw a 60-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole barely miss.
“We had a great read on the final putt, and I couldn’t believe it didn’t go in,” Scott said. “After all the putts that didn’t drop this week, I really needed that one.”
Scott will play next in Sydney for an Australian Open showdown with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, the defending champion.
— Tommy Armour III topped two-time U.S. Open champion in a playoff Lee Janzen to win the Callaway Pebble Beach Invitational event that featured 83 pros from the four major tours as well as mini tour players and club pros. Armour, who won the event for the third time in its 43-year history,made a 4-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole after he had to recover from hitting his tee shot on the beach on No. 18 in regulation.
“When I saw the ball on the beach I knew there was no other way,” said Armour. “I’ve had that shot before but I’ve never made it.”
— Hideki Matsuyama won the Dunlop Phoenix Open on the first playoff hole over Hiroshi Iwata. It was Matsuyama’s first victory this season on the Japanese tour. Jordan Spieth finished in third place.
— Tiger Woods announced Saturday that Chris Como has been working with him on his swing. Como is based out of Gleneagles Country Club in Plano.
“Happy to have Chris Como consulting and working with me on my swing. I’m excited to be back competing,” Tiger said on his Twitter. Woods returns to competition at next month’s Hero World Challenge at Isleworth.
