Day overcomes Dubuisson’s magic
Aussie captures Match Play crown on 23rd hole
Jason Day never stopped believing he would win the Match Play Championship, even in the midst of so many shots by Victor Dubuisson that defied belief.
With his ball at the base of a cactus, Dubuisson took an all- or- nothing swing and incredibly hit it to 4 feet to save par at Dove Mountain ( Ariz.). Seemingly out of it on the next playoff hole, the Frenchman whacked a wedge through a desert bush and rocks and onto the green for another par.
The Australian finally ended it Sunday on the 23rd hole with a pitch to 4 feet on No. 15 for birdie.
“I kept shaking my head because there was a couple of times there where I thought he was absolutely dead — the tournament was mine,” said Day, who won $ 1.53 million.
Two holes down with two holes to play, Dubuisson rapped in a 15- foot birdie putt on No. 17 and then took advantage of a rare lapse by Day, who bogeyed No. 18 with a three- putt from 50 feet.
“I’m disappointed because I made some terrible shots,” Dubuisson said, ignoring the two that were miraculous.
In the morning semifinals, Day beat Rickie Fowler 3 and 2, and Dubuisson topped Ernie Els 1 up. Fowler beat Els in 19 holes in the third- place match.
Anna Nordqvist won the LPGA Thailand to end a five- year victory drought, holding off Inbee Park by two shots at Siam Country Club. Nordqvist closed with a 4- under 68 for a 15- under 273. Park had a 66. Catriona Matthew ( 65) was third at 11 under, a shot ahead of Michelle Wie ( 69).
Baseball
Major League Baseball’s new guidelines regarding home plate collisions will be released Monday, executive vice president Joe Torre said. Torre, though, didn’t provide specifics except to say baseball wants to curb intentional contact.
Neither general manager Jerry Dipoto nor agent CraigLandiswouldcomment on a Yahoo Sports report that the Los Angeles Angels and Mike Trout are discussing a six- year contract extension that would pay the center fi elder in the $ 150 million range. Trout is still a year away from salary arbitration and four years away from free agency. Trout, 22, declined to discuss contract talks at camp in Tempe, Ariz. “I’m here to get ready for the season,” he said.
San Diego third baseman Chase Headley will be out at least two weeks because of a calf strain. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.
Colorado right- hander Jhoulys Chacin was shut down because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. He’ll undergo an MRI on Monday.
Tennis
Twins Bob and Mike Bryan beat Frantisek Cermak and Mikhail Elgin 6- 2, 6- 3 to win their third Delray Beach ( Fla.) doubles title. The Stanford alums won their 94th ATP Tour crown. Marin Cilic beat Kevin Anderson 7- 6 ( 6), 6- 7 ( 7), 6- 4 in the singles fi nal.
Rafael Nadal returned from a troublesome back injury to win the Rio Open in Brazil, beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6- 3, 7- 6 ( 3).
Motor sports
Alexis DeJoria won her first Funny Car title at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, beating Robert Hight in Chandler, Ariz. DeJoria, the wife of TV personality Jesse James and daughter of entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria, had a run of 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph in a Toyota Camry. Hight’s Ford Mustang lost traction.
Track and field
Ryan Whiting won the shot put at USA Indoor National Championships in Albuquerque, N. M. His throw of 72 feet, 11 ¼ inches was the fifth- best indoor mark in the world, about 17 inches shy of Randy Barnes’ world record. Mary Cain, 17, won the women’s 1,500 meters in 4: 07.05.