2. O’Hair seals win in Florida

Finau and LPGA’s Thompson finish tied for fourth.

Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair closed with an 8-under 64 to beat Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry at the QBE Shootout in Naples, Fla.

Steve Stricker provided the pep talk and Sean O’Hair delivered the shot to secure victory Sunday in the QBE Shootout.

Stricker and O’Hair closed with an 8-under 64 for a twoshot victory over Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, effectively clinching it when O’Hair made an eagle on the par-5 17th hole at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla.

In the final round of better ball, Stricker and O’Hair rallied from a two-shot deficit on the front nine, built a two-shot lead through 14 holes and were ahead by one shot heading to the reachable 17th with the green guarded by a huge bunker with a vetted, waist-high wall.

“Walking to 17 tee, Steve said, ‘A 3 would go a long way right now,’” O’Hair said.

O’Hair hit 7-iron from 195 yards over the bunker and it bounced onto the green about 12 feet away. McDowell and Lowry both hit into the bunker, with Lowry’s ball against the face of the wall that forced him to play sideways into the bunker. Both players had to settle for par, and O’Hair rolled in his eagle putt for a threeshot lead.

“He played great today,” Stricker said. “He hit a great

shot on 17. That’s the stuff you need to do to win a tournament, and Sean pulled it off.”

McDowell holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole as he and Lowry closed with a 66.

Stricker and O’Hair finished at 26-under 190 and each earned $410,000.

It was the second time Stricker and O’Hair won the team event hosted by Greg Norman, but the first time as partners. Stricker won in 2009 with Jerry Kelly and O’Hair won in 2012 with Kenny Perry.

Shootout rookies Pat Perez and Brian Harman shot 64 to finish third at 22-under 194.

Lexi Thompson, the only LPGA Tour player in the

12-team field, and Tony Finau closed with a 66 and tied for fourth place at 21-under 195 with the teams of Daniel Berger and Gary Woodland, and Brendan Steel and Keegan Bradley.

European Tour: India’s Shubhankar Sharma had a four-stroke lead in the Joburg Open with 11 holes left when lightning and heavy rain forced the suspension of play.

Making his 10th European Tour start, Sharma was 22 under at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg. South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen was second.

Forty-two players were unable to complete the round.

LOGAN NEWELL / NAPLES DAILY NEWS Sean O’Hair (right) shakes Greg Norman’s hand after O’Hair and partner Steve Stricker shot 8-under 64 to win the QBE Shootout.