Already No. 1 in the world, Luke Donald left little doubt who was No. 1 on the PGA Tour.
Believing his only chance to capture the PGA Tour money title was to win at Disney, Donald ran off six straight birdies on the back nine Sunday and closed with an 8-under 64 to come from five shots off the lead and win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.
Donald, who trailed Webb Simpson by $363,029 coming into the finale, was two behind Simpson at the turn. Then came a performance that ranks among Donald’s best, even in his greatest season of golf.
He holed four straight birdie putts inside 8 feet, took the lead with an 18-foot birdie on the par-5 14th hole, then sealed his stunning rally with a 45-foot birdie on the 15th hole.
It was his second PGA Tour win of the year. Donald also won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average. With no one else winning more than twice this year, the Englishman established himself as a heavy favorite to be PGA Tour player of the year.
Equally important, he kept alive his bid to become the first player to win the money title on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season. His lead in Europe is just over $1.8 million over Rory McIlroy with five tournaments remaining.
Former Kansas University golfer Gary Woodland shot a final-round 69 and finished tied for 12th. He was six back of Donald at 277 and won $95,175.
Golf
Tseng claims Taiwan title
Yang Mei, Taiwan — Yani Tseng won the LPGA Taiwan Championship for her 10th worldwide victory of the year and third in front of her adoring home fans.
The 22-year-old Taiwanese star closed with a 6-under 66 at Sunrise for a five-stroke victory over Spain’s Azahara Munoz and South Korea’s Amy Yang.
Tseng finished at 16 under and earned $300,000 for her seventh LPGA Tour victory of the season to push her tour-leading total to $2,873,629.
College Football
OU falls to No. 11
No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama have locked in their spots for the biggest regular-season game in Southeastern Conference history.
The Tigers and Crimson Tide held the first two spots in the Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday after huge victories a day earlier. With both heading into an off week, LSU and Alabama are virtually assured of meeting on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa as the top two teams in the country.
It’ll be the second 1 vs. 2 matchup involving SEC teams, but the first time came in the conference championship game.
Oklahoma, the preseason No. 1, dropped eight spots to No. 11 after its first loss of the season.
Oklahoma State is No. 3, followed by fellow unbeatens Stanford, Boise State and Clemson. The Cowboys have their best ranking since Nov. 19, 1984, when they were also No. 3.
OSU up to No. 3 in BCS
Rarely better than No. 2 in its own state, Oklahoma State is now the Big 12’s best bet to play for a national championship.
The Cowboys moved up to third Sunday in the BCS standings, replacing rival Oklahoma as the team behind LSU and Alabama best positioned to reach the national title game. It’s Oklahoma State’s best showing in the BCS standings.
Montana players stun-gunned
Missoula, Mont. — Police say officers used stun guns to subdue two University of Montana football players Sunday morning after the team returned to Missoula following a game Saturday at Northern Arizona.
Sgt. Collin Rose says quarterback Gerald Kemp and cornerback Trumaine Johnson scuffled with police officers who responded to a noise complaint at about 2:40 a.m.
Rose says one player struck an officer in the chest with an open hand and the second player grabbed the officer to prevent the arrest of his teammate.