Phil Hughes

probably needed to leave hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium, and the Minnesota Twins were desperate for proven arms to strengthen a woeful rotation. The two parties have come together, hoping to help each other out.

The Twins and Hughes agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal, a person with knowledge of the agreement told the Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because Hughes still has to pass a physical before the contract can become official. The

of Minneapolis first reported the deal.

Hughes went 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA last season for the New York Yankees. He was 1-10 with a 6.32 ERA at Yankee Stadium, though, so a move to pitcherfriendly Target Field could be exactly what the 27-year-old needs to jumpstart his career.

Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to beat Adam Scott at the Australian Open in Sydney, winning for the first time in 2013 and denying Scott the rare Australian triple crown.

McIlroy started the last round 4 shots behind Scott but drew even when he eagled the seventh and birdied the eighth.

Scott went a shot ahead with a birdie at the ninth, then the pair went shot for shot over the back nine before the tournament’s dramatic finish on the final hole.

Scott’s approach shot went over the back of the green and his chip went well past the hole, with two putts bringing a bogey. McIlroy hit his approach to 10 feet and sank the putt to claim victory by a shot.

» Charl Schwartzel successfully defended his title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa, shooting a 4-under 68 on Sunday for a 4-shot victory and his first European Tour victory in a year.

Schwartzel finished with a 17-under total of 271 at Leopard Creek to secure his third Alfred Dunhill title. Richard Finch was second, while Simon Dyson, Ross Fisher and Romain Wattel tied for third.

Lindsey Vonn is delaying further surgery on her right knee for as long as possible in hopes of skiing at the Sochi Olympics.

Vonn partially tore one of her reconstructed knee ligaments during a crash in training two weeks ago at Copper Mountain. She is seeing if she can ski without another operation because that would all but end any chance of defending her Olympic downhill title in February.

Vonn says she likely would be proceeding in the same way even if this weren’t an Olympic season.

“I probably would’ve done what I’m doing right now, test it out,” Vonn said after a training session at Vail on Sunday. “If I felt like it was possible to keep skiing, I probably would’ve. Either way, at the end of the season, I have to reconstruct the ACL.”

» Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge could be sidelined for up to eight weeks after spraining his ankle during training earlier this week.

The England forward has scored 11 goals in 14 matches for the Reds this season and his partnership with Luis Suarez has proved decisive in many occasions.