A $13 million pay day for US golfer Billy Horschel, a painful miss for Karrie Webb and Australia’s tennis players shine in a Davis Cup sweep.
Golf PGA
American golfer Billy Horschel eclipsed the biggest names in golf and claimed the game’s biggest prize.
Billy Horschel won the TOUR Championship worth US$3 million, to claim the season-long FedExCup and a US$10 million bonus at East Lake this morning.
Horschel swept through the back end of the PGA golf season by winning last week’s BMW Championship that moved him inside the top five of the FedExCup points standings.
Horschel then kept the momentum going this week, sharing or holding the lead after each round, finishing at 11 under, three shots clear of Jim Furyk and Rory McIlroy. Australia’s Jason Day tied for fourth one shot further back. Adam Scott tied ninth at 4 under.
In addition to his two wins, Horschel also was a runner-up at the Deutsche Bank Championship, his three-week run unprecedented in FedExCup Playoffs history.
John Senden ended the event with a four-over 74 to be 10 over for the week while Geoff Ogilvy (73) finished last in the 29-man field at 20-over.
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Australia have secured their spot in the Davis Cup World Group for next year after beating Uzbekistan 5-nil in a play-off in Perth over the weekend.
Golf LPGA
Australian veteran Karrie Webb has come agonisingly close to winning her eighth career major, finishing one stroke behind Hyo-Joo Kim at the Evian Championship in France.
In a dramatic finale on Sunday, the South Korean teenager upstaged the experienced Webb, holding her nerve to sink a 15-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
Webb, who was also aiming to become the first player to win six different majors in her stellar career, took a one-stroke lead into the 18th.
But after watching Kim grab a birdie, Webb missed a chance to force a playoff when a difficult attempt for par from 12 feet drifted left of the hole.
Kim had shot a final round 68 and the 11-under par total secured the 350,000 euro ($A525,000) prize and the added bonus of a free pass onto next season’s LPGA Tour.
Tennis
Australia have secured their spot in the Davis Cup World Group for next year after beating Uzbekistan 5-nil in a play-off in Perth over the weekend.
Rising star Nick Kyrgios won both of his singles matches, while Lleyton Hewitt, Chris Guccione and debutant Sam Groth also played key roles in the victory.
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AFL
Geelong says it’s weighing its option after star AFL player Dawson Simpson was caught by police drink-driving.
The Cats said in a statement Simpson was caught on Saturday night.
Geelong were eliminated from the premiership race after losing their semi-final against North Melbourne on Friday night.
Simpson missed the game because of injury.
NRL
The Bulldogs will be taking on Manly in the second week of the NRL finals after demolishing the Storm 28-4 at AAMI Park.
Canterbury kept Melbourne scoreless in the first half, leading 24-nil at halftime.
A serious leg injury could have Pat O’Hanlon out for the rest of the season, while fellow Dogs David Klemmer and Josh Morris could also miss taking on the Sea Eagles after being placed on report.
Volleyball
Australia have had a disappointing finish to their 2014 Volleyball world championships campaign, coming last in the group after being beaten by Italy in their final match.
The 25-23 25-14 21-25 25-18 result means Australia’s first foray into the second round of a world championship has ended winless.
“Obviously it’s disappointing to finish a tournament in this way,” captain Aidan Zingel said after the match.
“But there’s still so many positives we can take out of this event. It’s not all a loss, we played some incredibly tough teams, and we’ve had a great year.”
