Morikawa’s win historic in Dubai

Collin Morikawa capped off a sensational year with five birdies in his final seven holes to close with a 6-under 66 and win the DP World Tour Championship Sunday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, making him the first American to capture the Race to Dubai as the European Tour’s top player.

Winning two trophies in Dubai adds to a year in which the 24-year-old Californian won the British Open and holed the clinching putt in the Ryder Cup.

His closing stretch allowed him to overhaul a fading Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, seeking back-toback titles after victory at the CJ Cup on the PGA Tour a month ago, started the final round with a one-stroke lead — three clear of Morikawa — and his game seemingly in its best shape for some time. He was still in the lead when a chip onto the green at the 15th hole hit the flagstick and the ball rebounded back into a bunker. That led to the first of three bogeys in his final four holes as McIlroy closed with a 74 and in a tie for sixth place.

Ko goes low

Facing high stakes against her toughest opponent, Jin Young Ko delivered a performance that was close to perfect to win the richest prize in women’s golf and overtake Nelly Korda for LPGA player of the year.

Ko opened with a 25-foot birdie putt and never looked back in the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Fla. She shot 30 on the front nine and closed with the low round of the tournament at 9-under 63 for a oneshot victory over Nasa Hataoka of Japan.

So flawless was Ko, who has been coping with a left wrist injury since May, that she hit the final 63 greens in regulation at Tiburon Golf Club.

This victory brought big spoils, beyond the $1.5 million to the winner. The 26year-old South Korean had to win the tournament to claim the points- based LPGA player of the year, the second time in three years Ko has won the award.

Gooch rolls to win

Talor Gooch was playing too well to get fazed by anything in the final round of the RSM Classic, and it paid off with his first PGA Tour title when he closed with a 6under 64 for a three-shot victory at Sea Island in St. Simons Island, Ga. Gooch ran off three birdies in four holes to start the back nine and never let anyone get close to cap off a strong fall with the ultimate prize. The victory moved him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, to No. 33 in the world ranking and to Augusta National in April for the Masters. Gooch tied the tournament record of 22under 260 set by Kevin Kisner in 2014.