Leishman wins by one
Marc Leishman ran off five birdies on the front nine en route to closing with a 7-underpar 65 that gave him a one-stroke victory Sunday over Jon Rahm in the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.
Leishman, who completed 72 holes at 15-under 273, made three tough par saves down the stretch before finishing his round with a six-foot birdie putt that turned out to be crucial. Rahm had a chance to force a playoff with an eagle on the 18th hole, but his 50-foot putt missed to the left, and he had to settle for a birdie that left him a shot back. He closed with a 2-under 70.
Tiger Woods also closed with a 70 that left him in a tie for ninth at 9-under 279 in his 2020 debut. He said he was unaware of former Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash earlier in the day until his caddie told him about it after his round.
‘‘I didn’t understand why [the fans] were yelling, ‘Do it for Mamba,’ on the back nine,’’ said Woods, who called it ‘‘one of the most shocking, tragic days I’ve ever been part of.’’
♦ Lucas Herbert sank a two-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to outlast Christiaan Bezuidenhout and win the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates for his first European Tour title. Both players shot 4-under 68s to complete 72 holes of regulation at 9-under 279.
NBA Zion earns first NBA victory
Rookie No. 1 pick Zion Williamson scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his third NBA game, and the Pelicans earned their first victory with him on the active roster by defeating the visiting Celtics 123-108.
Williamson, who missed the Pelicans’ first 44 games after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee the day before the regular season began, played 27 minutes after playing 18 in his first game and 21 in his second.
♦ Damian Lillard scored 50 points, including eight three-pointers, and handed out 13 assists to trump a triple-double by Domantas Sabonis (27 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) and power the host Trail Blazers to a 139-129 victory against the Pacers. Lillard became the first player in franchise history to score 40 or more points in three consecutive games.
♦ Trae Young scored 45 points and had 14 assists, and the Hawks overcame a 40-point effort by Bradley Beal to defeat the visiting Wizards 152-133. Young has scored 40 or more points eight times this season, second in the NBA to Rockets star James Harden.
TENNIS Federer advances at Aussie Open
Third-seeded Roger Federer rallied past Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where he will face Tennys Sandgren, the last U.S. man left in the field. Sandgren upset 12th-seeded Fabio Fognini 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4.
Also reaching the quarterfinals were fifthseeded Dominic Thiem on the men’s side and fourth-seeded Simona Halep and Anett Kontaveit on the women’s side.