GOLF: Senior, 53, wins Australian Open
Peter Senior, a 53-year-old Aussie who plays regularly on the Champions Tour, won the Australian Open yesterday at The Lakes in Sydney by one stroke over Brendan Jones, overcoming a three-hour weather delay.
Kenny Perry and Sean O’Hair won the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Naples, Fla. … Charl Schwartzel won the Thailand Championship by 11 shots over Bubba Watson.
NBA: Jazz send Lakers to another loss
Paul Millsap scored 24 points as the visiting Jazz defeated the Lakers 117-110. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 34 points, making 12 of 14 free throws, as they fell to 4-7 in their last 11 games.
Chris Wilcox of the Celtics was fined $25,000 for making an obscene gesture toward fans during Friday’s loss at Philadelphia. … Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was fined $25,000 for criticizing the officiating in Friday’s 91-73 loss at Minnesota. … Spurs forward Stephen Jackson was fined $25,000 by the NBA for threatening Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka in a Twitter post.
SOCCER: Messi breaks scoring record
Lionel Messi broke German great Gerd Mueller’s 40-year-old record for most goals in a year by scoring for the 86th time in 2012. The Argentine star scored twice to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 win at Real Betis in the Spanish league.
Thierry Henry reportedly is set for another loan return to Arsenal of the English Premier League, The Red Bulls striker could make his debut in the Gunners’ FA Cup clash against Swansea on Jan. 6.
Nikita Kotlov scored off a header pass in the second half to give Indiana a 1-0 victory over Georgetown to win the NCAA soccer championship in Hoover, Ala.
ETC.: Brown leads Jaspers past Siena
Rhamel Brown scored 21 points and blocked three shots and Manhattan (3-5, 1-1 MAAC) snapped a two-game slide, beating Siena (2-9, 1-1), 75-55.
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is expected to reach his decision by tomorrow in the Saints bounty appeal, league sources said. The players involved — Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove — are said to be reasonably satisfied with the way Tagliabue conducted the hearings.