Weekend roundup: Rory almost hit by ball, LPGA star birdies every hole

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The season may be coming to a close on this side of the Atlantic, but it’s just beginning on the PGA Tour. Here’s a round-up of the winners and losers from the weekend.

Sullivan makes it three
Andy Sullivan became the first man this year to bag three titles on the European Tour with a runaway victory in the Portuguese Masters. The Englishman claimed a nine-shot victory after going into the final round with a five-shot. His final round 66 saw him finish on 23 under at Vilamoura. Second was fellow Englishman Chris Wood, with Anthony Wall, Trevor Fisher and Eduardo de la Riva T3. Sullivan won the South Africa Open in January and Joburg Open in March.

Grillo

Grillo is off to Augusta
Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo beat Kevin Nain a play off to win the opening event of the ‘2016’ PGA Tour season, at the Frys.com Open. He holed a nine-footer for birdie at the second hole to claim his fist PGA Tour title – and an invite to Augusta next year. “You say Masters, I can’t believe it,” said Grillo, who shot a 3-under 69 Sunday. “This is awesome. There is no words to put in to explain this. This is the greatest moment of my life golf-wise.”

Rory almost hit by drive
Rory McIlroy was almost hit by a wayward drive in California. He had just played a chip shot on the driveable par-4 17th when the drive of Emiliano Grillo landed just feet away, on the fly. There were no shouts of fore. “I just can’t imagine what Grillo was thinking back there on the tee,” said Golf Channel commentator Peter Jacobsen.

World Golf Rankings

Day back to World No.1
Even though he wasn’t playing this weekend, Jason Day returned to the top of the world rankings, ending Jordan Spieth’s three-week run at the top. The 27-year-old became the third Australian following Greg Norman and Adam Scott to get to the No. 1 spot. He is not expected to play again until Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in December. Spieth will also play that event but is scheduled to play the WGC-HSBC Champions and defend his Australian Open title next month. Rory McIlroy also has a chance to move back to the top as he returns to the European Tour’s season-ending Race to Dubai.

Yang

Yang birdies every hole on back nine
LPGA star Amy Yang birided every hole on the back nine at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in South Korea on Sunday, shooting 27. She equalled Beth Daniel’s LPGA record for consecutive birdies. “I never thought about it. Never thought about it,” Yang said. “I don’t know what just happened. I mean, if it can be a history, so honoured. I made a couple of birdies to start the day but after a bogey on the sixth, I figured this would be just another ordinary day. Then I started hitting the ball much better on the back nine and making every putt. I don’t think there was any one particular turning point. I just kept on hitting the ball and making putts. This is absolutely incredible.” She ended up shooting 62. Lexi Thompson won the KEB Hana Bank Championship after closing with a three-under-par 69 to finish at 15-under, beating Yani Tseng (68) and Sung Hyun Park (71) by a stroke.

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