Inside: U.S. Women’s Open pushed to Monday by storms, News+Notes,
HOUSTON >> The latest U.S. Women’s Open on the calendar will last one more day because of relentless rain that drenched Champions Golf Club and forced the USGA to suspend the final round until Monday.
Hinako Shibuno of Japan, who had a one-shot lead as she goes for a second major, never teed off.
The USGA moved up tee times as early as possible Sunday because of the forecast, and the final round was just over an hour old when thunderstorms in the area caused play to be stopped. It never resumed, with about three- quarters of an inch of rain falling before there was no point in trying to restart.
The turf in the December climate doesn’t drain as quickly. Plus, heavy rain soaked the course Friday after the second round. There was standing water across Champions even during spells when the rain subsided.
The U.S. Women’s Open was postponed from early June because of the COVID-19 pandemic. KUCHAR , ENGLISH WIN SHOOTOUT >> Matt Kuchar and Harris English broke a bunch of their own QBE Shootout records in a runaway victory at Tiburon Golf Club.
Kuchar and English became the first team to win the event three times, finished at 37-under 179 to break the mark of 34 under they set in 2013, and won by nine strokes to top their 2013 record of seven. WESTWOOD IS EUROPE’S NO. 1 AGAIN >> Lee Westwood clinched the Race to Dubai title to end a season as the European Tour’s No. 1 player for the third time, at the age of 47, after a crazy finish to the DP World Tour Championship won in dramatic circumstances by Matt Fitzpatrick.
Westwood finished in second place outright on 14 under par after a 4-under 68 in his final round, which was enough to jump to the top of the Race to Dubai standings — but only after meltdowns by his rivals in the final holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
College football
STANFORD BEATS OREGON STATE >> Davis Mills passed for 292 yards and a touchdown, and ran for two scores to lead Stanford to a 27-24 victory over Oregon State on Saturday night.
Mills completed 21 of 29 passes and did not commit a turnover.
Austin Jones added 126 yards rushing for the Cardinal (3-2), who have been in road-warrior mentality the past three weeks. AUBURN FIRES MALZAHN >> Auburn fired football coach Gus Malzahn, ending an eight-year run that began with a trip to the national championship game.
Athletic director Allen Greene announced the firing, a day after the Tigers finished the regular season with a 24-10 victory over Mississippi State. Auburn is 6- 4 in a pandemic-shortened season of all Southeastern Conference opponents.
ILLINOIS FIRES SMITH >> Illinois fired coach Lovie Smith with a game left in its ninth consecutive losing season.
Smith became Illinois’ first Black head football coach when he was hired by athletic director Josh Whitman in March 2016. The longtime NFL coach went 17-39 in five seasons at the school.
SHAKEUP IN AP POLL >> The first top-10 shakeup in more than a month pushed Coastal Carolina to No. 9 in The Associated Press college football poll.
Alabama was a unanimous No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Ohio State, Clemson and Texas A&M.