Hovland cruises, wins repeat title in Mexico

Viktor Hovland won again on the PGA Tour, this time without a clutch finish. The Norwegian star was too dominant to give anyone else a chance Sunday in the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Hovland seized control with three birdies on the front nine, and never let Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas or anyone else get closer than three shots the rest of the way.

He closed with a 4-under 67 for a four-shot win over Carlos Ortiz of Mexico, making him the first repeat winner since Mayakoba began in 2007.

Hovland won last year with a birdie putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory. He also made birdie on his last hole when he won the Puerto Rico Open in the spring of 2020

Hovland moved up to No. 10 in the world.

Steven Alker shot a final-round 4-under 68 to claim a two-shot victory at the TimberTech Championship in Boca Raton, Fla. Alker, 50, earned his first career Champions Tour title in the season’s second of three postseason events. ... Thomas Pieters shot a final-round 3-under 68 to win the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura. It was the fifth European Tour title for the 29-year-old Pieters.

Auto racing: Max Verstappen stretched his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the F1 season championship with a dominant victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished third to become the first Mexican driver to reach the podium in the history of the race. Verstappen now leads Hamilton by 19 points with four races left in the season. Hamilton, the seven-time series champ, was second. Verstappen, 24, earned his ninth win of the season, second in a row and third career win in Mexico City.

NBA: Kevin Durant had 31 points, James Harden scored 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Nets won their fifth straight game, beating the host Raptors 116-103.