IN BRIEF Late birdies lift Simpson to victory
Webb Simpson celebrated another victory on Father’s Day, this time with a tartan jacket instead of a U.S. Open trophy.
In a wild sprint to the finish after a three-hour storm delay, Simpson ran off five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine at Harbour Town in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and closed with a 7-under 64 for a one-shot victory over Abraham Ancer.
Simpson won the U.S. Open at Olympic Club in 2012. The U.S. Open has been scheduled to end on Father’s Day every year since 1976, but it was moved to September this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The RBC Heritage filled the spot on the schedule and Simpson, now a father of five, became a winner for the second time this year with a record score at Harbour Town.
He didn’t have much of a choice with so many low scores on a soft course with little wind. He finished at 22-under 262, breaking by two the tournament record set by Brian Gay in 2009.
“It was a crazy day,” Simpson said. “I didn’t get it going until 12 and then the putts started going in and I started getting confident. It’s amazing to be standing here right now.”
Simpson, who won the Phoenix Open in February, moved to No. 5 in the world. He also moved to the top of the FedEx Cup.
It was a tough runner-up finish for Ancer, trying to become the fifth straight winner of the RBC Heritage to capture his first PGA Tour victory at Harbour Town. He hit all 18 greens in regulation and tied for the lead with a bold fairway metal over the trees to the par-5 15th that set up a two-putt birdie. He also stayed in the game with a birdie on the 17th.
Ancer shot 65.
The PGA Tour now heads to the Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, and it’s still to be determined who will be playing until coronavirus tests are released for those on the charter flight.
The uncertainty stems from the first positive test — Nick Watney on Friday — along with 11 tests for those who had been in close contact with Watney. Until the first tournament back at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, the area around Harbour Town was crowded with the start of summer vacation.
Those not on the charter will be tested upon arrival in Connecticut. Any positive test means a player must withdraw.
■ Two-time major champ So Yeon Ryu closed with an even-par 72 to win the Korea Women’s Open in Incheon, South Korea. It was her first tournament in four months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryu won for the first time since the Japan Women’s Open in 2018, and it was her first victory on the Korea LPGA since 2015.
Auto racing: Doctors treating Italian racing championturned-Paralympic gold medalist Alex Zanardi said Sunday that he remains stable after a crash on his handbike but is at risk of unforeseen complications. Zanardi, 53, who lost both of his legs in a crash nearly 20 years ago, has been in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator since he crashed his handbike into a truck near the Tuscan town of Pienza during a relay race Friday. Doctors said he suffered serious facial and cranial trauma and have warned of possible brain damage . ... Six-time Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton is to set up a commission to increase diversity in motorsports. The Mercedes driver said the aim of the commission would be to make the sport “become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in.”
Horse racing: Strictly Biz, a 4-year-old colt, was euthanized after fracturing his right knee while galloping past the finish of the sixth race Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. It was the 15th fatality at the track since late December.
NFL: While QB Dak Prescott and the Cowboys remain at an impasse on a long-term extension, there was never any doubt regarding his presence on the field in 2020 because of the franchise-tag designation. That point should be proven Monday when Prescott is expected to sign his $31.4 million exclusive franchise tender, according to reports Sunday. The two sides still have until July 15 to work out a long-term deal.
Soccer: After 103 days out of action due to the COVID-19 pandemic, English Premier League leader Liverpool was held to a scoreless draw by Everton on Sunday in the 236th Merseyside derby. Liverpool leads second-place and two-time defending champ Manchester City by 23 points in its bid for its first league title since 1990 . ... Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema scored second-half goals as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1 to take the lead from two-time defending league champ Barcelona. Madrid and Barca are level on 65 points, but Madrid has a better goal difference and a better head-to-head record.
Tennis: Grigor Dimitrov tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the cancellation of an exhibition event in Croatia where top-ranked Novak Djokovic was due to play in the final. Djokovic had been scheduled to play Russia’s Andrey Rublev. The professional tennis tours have been suspended since March and plan to resume in August.