GOLF: Fourteen-year-old earns spot in Masters
Fourteen-year-old Guan Tianlang of China earned a trip to the Masters with a victory yesterday at the Asia-Pacific Championship in Bangkok. Guan will become the youngest player to play at Augusta, surpassing the mark set by Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who was about to turn 17 when he played in 2010.
Ian Poulter won the HSBC Champions for his first victory of the season, overcoming a four-stroke deficit with a 7-under 65 yesterday in Shenzen, China. Four shots back, tied for second were Phil Mickelson (68), Jason Dufner (64), Scott Piercy (65) and Ernie Els (67).
Tom Lehman won the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz., to become the first Champions Tour player to win the season points title two straight years. After shooting 68-63-62 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round, Lehman birdied four of the last five holes for a 5-under 65 and a six-stroke victory over Jay Haas.
Stacy Lewis rallied to win the Mizuno Classic in Shima, Japan, for her LPGA Tour-leading fourth title of the year. She shot an 8-under 64 to post a one-stroke victory over South Korea’s Lee Bo-mee.
NBA: Lakers notch first victory
Dwight Howard scored 28 points as the host Lakers finally got their first victory of the season, 108-79 over the winless Pistons. ... J.J. Redick scored 24 points as the host Magic rallied for a 115-94 win over the Suns. … Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds as the visiting Hawks beat the Thunder, 104-95. … Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points as the Raptors earned their first victory of the season with a 105-86 win over visiting Timberwolves.
COLLEGE: Kentucky coach won’t be back
Joker Phillips was told he won’t be returning as Kentucky’s football coach next season. The Wildcats (1-9, 0-7 SEC) lost their eighth straight game Saturday, a 40-0 home loss to Vanderbilt. It was unknown if Phillips will be allowed to coach the final two games of the season.
TENNIS: Petrova wins WTA crown
Nadia Petrova stunned top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-1 to win the Tournament of Champions in Sofia, Bulgaria, clinching her third WTA title of the year.
Fourth-seeded David Ferrer beat Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-3 in the Paris Masters final for the biggest win of his career and ATP tour-leading seventh title of the year.
AUTOS: Johnson rolls in Fort Worth
Jimmie Johnson regained the lead on the final restart on the 334th of 335 laps before holding off Brad Keselowski in Fort Worth, Texas, to increase his lead in the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship from five to seven points. Kyle Busch, who led four times for 80 laps, finished third and Matt Kenseth was fourth.
Kimi Raikkonen won a crash-filled Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, holding off Ferrari’s Fernando Alsonso.