McDowell holds on, ends drought

Graeme McDowell shot a steady evenpar 70 to win the Saudi International by two strokes Sunday 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 to finish at 12-under 268, holding off late pressure by defending champion Dustin Johnson.

Johnson made an eagle on the par-5 18th by chipping in over a bunker for a 67 as McDowell saved par on No. 17.

McDowell sank his 5-footer for par on the 18th to secure his 16th professional win.

A first title on McDowell’s home tour since the 2014 French Open lifted him back into a top-50 world ranking.

“It’s special,” the 40-year-old Northern Irishman said. “I want to be back up there one more time just to be able to play against these guys.”

Phil Mickelson fired a 67 to finish three strokes back in a three-way tie for third with Thomas Pieters of Belgium (65) and Gavin Green of Malaysia (70).

Mickelson surged with three straight birdies on Nos. 2-4, but he didn’t find another until the 18th.

Top-ranked Brooks Koepka shot a 72 and finished tied for 17th, eight shots back.

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo converted two penalties to tie a club record by scoring for a ninth straight match as eight-time defending Serie A champ and current leader Juventus earned a 3-0 victory over visiting Fiorentina. Ronaldo, who has 19 goals in 19 league matches this season, tied David Trezeguet’s streak in 2005. Juventus holds a three-point lead over Inter Milan . ... Ansu Fati, 17, became the youngest player to tally two goals in a La Liga match, scoring in the 30th and 31st minutes to lead two-time defending champ Barcelona to a 2-1 win over visiting Levante. Barca remained with three points of leader Real Madrid . ... Host Tottenham secured to a 2-0 victory over 10-man Manchester City. With its sixth Premier League loss of the season, two-time defending champ City fell 22 points behind leader Liverpool.

Women’s basketball: Zia Cooke scored 20 points Sunday, and top-ranked and host South Carolina used its relentless defense to put away No. 22 Tennessee 69-48 for its 15th straight win. But South Carolin’s leading scorer and rebounder Aliyah Boston left the victory with a right knee injury.

— News services