Kizzire outlasts Hahn to win Sony Open
HONOLULU — Patton Kizzire outlasted James Hahn in six extra holes to win the Sony Open on Sunday and become the first multiple winner on the PGA Tour this season.
Kizzire, who won the OHL Classic in Mexico last fall, closed with a 2-underpar 68.
That turned out to be the easy part.
Hahn shot 62 in the final round and got into a playoff with Kizzire at 17-under 263.
They matched two pars and two birdies on the par-5 18th. They matched pars when they went to the par-3 17th. It ended on the par 3 along the Pacific Ocean when Hahn putted from right of the green to about 8 feet, and his par putt caught the lip.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Kizzire said. “I’ll take it any way I can get it.”
Hahn, who won both his PGA Tour events in playoffs at Riviera and Quail Hollow, had birdie putts from 10 feet and 6 feet on the par-5 18th hole at Waialae Country Club that would have won it. He made a 6-foot birdie another time to extend the playoff.
Kizzire had to get upand-down from a bunker for par on the first extra hole, making a 7-footer to stay alive.
This was the longest playoff on the PGA Tour since Bryce Molder won the Frys.com Open in 2012 in eight extra holes.
It nearly was the most exciting tournament that no one saw. Union workers for video and audio production at Golf Channel events walked out Sunday over a labor dispute, and the network had to scramble to provide limited coverage. They had enough cameras to at least cover the final three holes and the entire playoff, with commentary coming from headquarters in Florida.
Missing from the playoff was Tom Hoge, who did everything right in his bid to win for the first time on the PGA Tour except for one swing. He had a one-shot lead when he was between clubs on the 16th hole, and opted to hit a draw to the back-left pin. He turned it too much and it found the bunker. His next shot got hung up in the shaggy rough, he chipped that to 12 feet and missed to make double bogey to slip one shot behind.
Hoge gave himself two good chances with putts of about 7 feet. Both burned the edge. He shot 70 and had to settle for third place, his best finish on the PGA Tour.
Hirscher’s slalom streak continues
Marcel Hirscher is unbeatable in slalom right now, and his World Cup victory finally gave him victory at Wengen, Switzerland.
The Austrian star extended his first-run lead to finish 0.93 ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway in a familiar runner-up spot. Andre Myhrer of Sweden was third, 1.72 back.
Hirscher’s domination was so complete that he also had the fastest time in the second run, 0.34 quicker than Kristoffersen, by attacking his rival’s target rather than protecting his lead.
Hirscher’s fifth consecutive success in slalom was the 53rd World Cup win of his career but a first at the storied Swiss course where he is a three-time runner-up
Earning 100 World Cup points, Hirscher stretched his lead over second-placed Kristoffersen in the overall and slalom season-long standings. Hirscher is the six-time defending overall champion. In other news: • Sofia Goggia led an Italian sweep of the podium at a women’s World Cup downhill in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria. Racing from a lowered start because of fog in the upper part of the hill, Goggia timed 1 minute, 4.00 seconds to beat Federica Brignone by 1.10 and Nadia Fanchini by 1.35 for her third career victory. Tiffany Gauthier of France missed the podium by 0.14 to finish fourth and match her career best result. American Lindsey Vonn was more than three seconds off the lead in 27th. It was the first time in the 51-year-history of the World Cup that the Italian team took the top three spots in a women’s downhill.
Gonzalez, Mets agree to deal
Free-agent first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and the New York Mets have reached agreement on a one-year contract.
Gonzalez, 35, needs to pass a physical to complete the deal. He was limited to 71 games last season because of a herniated disk in his back, and was left off the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason roster.
Gonzalez is a five-time All-Star, hitting .288 with 311 career home runs. He batted just .242 last season and was traded to Atlanta in December. The Braves released him shortly after the deal.
Gonzalez is owed more than $21 million next season, but the Mets would be responsible for just $545,000 if he makes the team. New York tried rookie Dominic Smith at first base late last season, but the rookie hit only .198.
Simon, Kessel power Penguins
Dominik Simon and Phil Kessel scored milestone goals to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-2 victory over the visiting New York Rangers.
Simon got the first goal of his NHL career and Kessel scored his 20th of the season for his 700th point on back-to-back goals that put the Penguins ahead for good. Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist and Carl Hagelin also scored as the Penguins got their season high-tying fourth consecutive win and fifth in six games.
Joshua, Parker to unify titles
Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker will put their titles and reputations on the line when they meet in a world heavyweight title clash at Cardiff, Wales, on March 31.
Their eagerly awaited unification bout will take place at the Principality Stadium, with the big-punching rivals also defending unbeaten records. Joshua is 20-0 and Parker 24-0.
Racing pioneer Gurney, 86, dies
Dan Gurney, the first driver to win in Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR, died from complications of pneumonia. He was 86.
His wife, Evi, announced his death in a statement distributed by All American Racers, Inc.
Gurney began racing in 1955 and won in nearly every racing series he attempted. He drove for Ferrari, BRM, Porsche and Brabham in Formula One before forming his own team. He won the Belgian Grand Prix in 1967 in his own car — the first and only time an American won an F1 race in a car of his own design.
Gurney teamed with A.J. Foyt that year to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40, and he often is credited with starting the tradition of spraying champagne from the podium at that race.
Gurney retired from driving in 1970 with 51 victories.