Team Thomas wins PNC, Woods’ son is a hit
Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods traded text messages on the eve of the final round at the PNC Championship, their teams tied for the lead and in contention. Neither mentioned winning.
This was about Woods getting to play alongside 11-year-old son Charlie, watching him twirl the club after a good drive and yes, even deliver a fist pump in his red shirt Sunday. For Thomas, it was about competing with his father, Mike, a longtime club professional in Kentucky and the only coach he’s ever had.
Team Thomas birdied the opening seven holes and the father delivered a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that gave them a 15-under 57 in the scramble format and a one-shot victory over Vijay Singh and son Qass.
They won the Willie Park Trophy. It only felt like the other 19 teams won a participation trophy.
Team Woods posted another 62 to finish seventh. Woods and his son dressed in his traditional Sunday red with black trousers. Charlie’s mother, Elin Nordegren, walked the final round at The Ritz-Carlton Club at Grande Lakes, her first time at a golf tournament since the 2009 Presidents Cup at Harding Park.
KO WINS MONEY TITLE » Jin Young Ko missed most of the LPGA Tour season and still won the yearlong money title.
That’s what a $1.1 million check does.
The top-ranked Ko put an emphatic capper on her truncated year by shooting a 6-under 66 and winning the CME Group
Tour Championship by five strokes over Hannah Green and Sei Young Kim.
With a birdie on the final hole, the LPGA Tour’s final putt of the season, Ko finished at 18 under at Tiburon for her seventh career LPGA Tour title.
NBA
LAKERS GIVE KUZMA EXTENSION » Forward Kyle Kuzma has agreed to a three-year, $40 million extension to remain with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, a person familiar with the deal said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lakers didn’t disclose the terms of the deal in their announcement of an extension. ESPN first reported the terms of Kuzma’s rookie contract extension, which begins in 2021 and includes a player option for the 2023-24 season.
JAZZ, GOBERT AGREE ON EXTENSION » A person with knowledge of the situation said the Utah Jazz and All- Star center Rudy Gobert have agreed on a contract extension that could be worth as much as $205 million over five seasons.
Gobert’s deal has a player option for the fifth and final season, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Jazz have not announced the signing. Gobert and Jazz coach Quin Snyder both confirmed the agreement to ESPN, which first reported the deal.