Watson wins, denies Thomas top ranking
Bubba Watson won his second World Golf Championships title Sunday at the Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, with the biggest blowout since the championship match switched to 18 holes in 2011.
Watson never trailed in the 28 holes he played Sunday, and was never seriously threatened. He wasn’t as sharp in the final, a 7and-6 win over Kevin Kisner ,ashe was in the semifinals against Justin Thomas, whom he beat in 16 holes to deny Thomas the No. 1 world ranking. But Watson didn’t have to be his best to beat Kisner, who made four straight bogeys.
Thomas said he was too consumed with what was at stake.
“I haven’t had such a hard time not thinking about something so much,” Thomas said.
One year after Watson disappeared from golf ’s elite, he has won twice in his last four starts. He was No. 117 in the world when he arrived at Riviera, where he won for the third time to get back up to No. 21.
Steve Stricker shot a fourunder-par 68 to win the Rapiscan Systems Classic in Biloxi, Miss., his second straight Champions Tour win . ... Eun-Hee Ji had a hole in one to finish off Cristie Kerr and the other challengers in the Kia Classic in Carlsbad . ... Brice Garnett led wire to wire to win the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship for his first PGA Tour title.
NBA Kerr: ‘No way’ Curry plays in first round
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr ruled out Stephen Curry for the first round of the playoffs next month, saying “There’s no way he’s playing” because of a sprained left knee.
Curry returned Friday from a six-game absence because of an ankle injury but hurt his knee. An MRI exam showed a Grade 2 sprain. He will be reevaluated in three weeks.
“Hopefully I prove what Coach said was wrong and put myself in position to get back as soon as possible,” Curry said.
ETC. NASCAR race is postponed for a day
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway was postponed until Monday because of inclement weather.
The Truck Series race, halted after only 23 laps Saturday, will resume at 8 a.m. PDT, followed by the Cup Series race at 11 a.m. PDT.
Sebastian Vettel won the Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix. He’s the fourth driver to claim 100 podium finishes, joining Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost.
Quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels, who was expected to enroll at UCLA as a graduate transfer, has instead decided to attend Colorado State, Rams coach Mike Bobo announced. Carta-Samuels spent the last three seasons as a backup with Washington and was expected to compete with UCLA redshirt sophomore Devon Modster and freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the starting job. — Ben Bolch The New York Jets signed wide receiver Terrelle Pryor . ... The Cleveland Browns reached agreement on a two-year contract with quarterback Drew Stanton.
Venus Williams overcame three match points to rally past Kiki Bertens in the third round of the Miami Open 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
Right-hander Dinelson Lamet left his spring-training start for the San Diego Padres with an elbow injury . ... Former Angels Mike Napoli (Cleveland), Erick Aybar (Minnesota), Ricky Nolasco (Kansas City), Ben Revere (Cincinnati) and Scott Kazmir (Atlanta) were among the latest roster cuts . ... The Philadelphia Phillies and Scott Kingery, regarded as the top second base prospect in baseball, agreed on a six-year contract.
Olympian Tommy Ford wrapped up a solid season by winning the giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine championships in Idaho.