Simpson rallies to win in playoff

Webb Simpson was in big trouble when he drove into the rightside water on the par5 15th.

“I didn’t think it was over,” Simpson said. “But I thought, ‘I’m going to really have to do something special to get back in it.’ ”

He did — at friend Tony Finau’s expense Sunday in the Phoenix Open on a TPC Scottsdale course that played tougher with firm greens and a touch of wind. Simpson birdied the final two holes of regulation to force a playoff with Finau, then won with a 10foot birdie putt on the first extra hole.

Two strokes ahead with two holes left, Finau missed an 18foot birdie try in the playoff on the par4 18th after driving left into the churchpew bunkers.

Simpson closed with a 2underpar 69 to match Finau (70) at 17under 267.

Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, won his sixth PGA Tour title and first since the 2018 Players Championship.

They each parred the the par3 stadium 16th, with Finau wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey on the rowdy hole. The PGA Tour cut the pin position in a tribute to Bryant, using his two Lakers uniform numbers. The pin was placed 24 yards from the front edge and 8 yards from the left edge, putting it in the back left corner. The flag had an 8 one side and a 24 on the other, and the numbers also were painted into the grass in front of the green.

Fourthranked Justin Thomas tied for third at 14under after a 65.

Graeme McDowell shot a steady par70 to win the Saudi International by two strokes for his first European Tour title since 2014.

McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open winner at windy Pebble Beach, protected his lead on a breezy afternoon by the Red Sea at King Abdullah Economic City to card a 12under 268 total, holding off late pressure by defending champion Dustin Johnson (67).

Phil Mickelson fired a 67 to end in a threeway tie for third place on 9under. Soccer: Twotime defending English Premier League champion Manchester City failed to cut into Liverpool’s 22point lead by losing 20 at Tottenham.

Barcelona’s teenage sensation Ansu Fati set another scoring record when he became the youngest player to get two goals in a Spanish league game. Fati, 17, struck from passes by Lionel Messi to help Barcelona beat Levante 21, keeping the defending champion three points shy of leader Real Madrid.