Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Monday 19 noveMber 2018

Charles Howell III wins RSM Classic in playoff Thompson wins LPGA

finale, Jutanugarn wins
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.
(AP) — Charles Howell III Race to CME Globe
made a 15-foot birdie putt
on the second hole of a
playoff with Patrick Rodg- NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Lexi 276.
ers on Sunday in the RSM Thompson was the best “It felt great today,” Ju-
Classic to end an 11-year this week, and Ariya Ju- tanugarn said. “I’m very
victory drought. tanugarn was the best all proud of myself.”
Howell dropped to his season. Jutanugarn briefly lost
knees and buried his head Neither left any doubt the lead in the projected
in his hands, then tearfully about that Sunday. Globe standings on Sun-
embraced wife Heather Thompson shot a 2-under day after Brooke Hender-
and children Ansley and 70 to finish at 18-under 270 son made three birdies
Chase — neither of whom and win the LPGA’s sea- on her first seven holes to
were born when he last son-ending CME Group grab the top spot. Juta-
won on the PGA Tour at Tour Championship by nugarn reclaimed the ad-
Riviera in 2007. Charles Howell III reacts after winning a playoff against Patrick four strokes over Nelly vantage with four birdies
Howell earned $1,152,000 Rodgers on the 18th green in the final round of the RSM Classic Korda. The win makes this in a six-hole stretch mid-
and a return trip to his golf tournament on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in St. Simons Island, the sixth consecutive year way through her round,
hometown of Augusta, Ga. that Thompson has won and the trophy was just
Georgia, in April to play in Associated Press at least once, extending about locked up when
the Masters for the first time “The way I started today, I Rodgers’ 17-under 123 the longest such active she birdied the par-5 14th
since 2012 just honestly thought I shot weekend was one shot off streak on the LPGA Tour. almost simultaneously to
“That was the first thing that myself in the foot again,” Troy Matteson’s PGA Tour “Golf is my life,” Thomp- Henderson making bogey
popped into my head (af- Howell said. “I thought that record for consecutive son said. “But it is just what on the par-3 16th.
ter making the clinching was pretty much over. I had rounds of 122 set the 2009 I do. I’m coming to realize The 13th hole Sunday
putt),” Howell said. “Obvi- seen this movie before.” Frys.com Championship. that. Still not there some provided the shift that
ously, it means a lot to me Howell closed with a 3-un- He finished second for the of the days because it is Thompson used to hold
being from Augusta but it der 67, birdieing Nos. 15-17, third time in four years. so much a part of my life, off Korda. They went to
means a lot to every play- to match Rodgers at 19-un- “I fought as hard as I could,” but it is just a sport. There the tee of that par-4 with
er, right? Every golfer in the der 263 in the final PGA said Rodgers, who broke Ti- is so much to life other Thompson up by two; she
world knows what the Mas- Tour event of the year. Af- gers Woods’ scoring record than that, my family and made birdie, Korda made
ters is so I’m nothing special ter making the 36-hole cut at Stanford and tied his vic- my friends and just loving bogey, and Thompson
on that. But that tourna- on the 2-under number, tory record. “I didn’t really every bit of that and just was suddenly up four with
ment, that atmosphere, Rodgers shot 61-62 on the back down. I stayed ag- being grateful for what I five holes to play.
just everything ... it’s tough weekend. gressive and I made bird- have.” “It was just very special to
at home to sit back and Howell had a 22-foot birdie ies all the way to the finish. Jutanugarn took the other win in front of all my fam-
watch that on television.” attempt on the final hole to It’s a testament to how well two big prizes that were up ily and friends,” Thompson
After Rodgers sent a birdie win in regulation, but the Charles played.” for grabs this week, clinch- said.
attempt of 21 feet past the ball turned away from the Webb Simpson (65) had a ing the yearlong Race to Jutanugarn finished in
cup on the second extra cup inches from the edge. 12-foot birdie opportunity the CME Globe prize — style, rolling in a 15-footer
hole, Howell’s putt died Both players had birdie at the final hole to join the and the $1 million bonus for birdie on the final hole
in the cup and capped looks on the first playoff playoff, but missed. He lost that comes with that — as to cap the year where she
a comeback in which he hole, with Rodgers missing the RSM Classic in sudden well as the Vare Trophy for swept the LPGA’s biggest
went bogey-double bo- from 27 feet and Howell death to Ben Crane in 2011. winning the season’s scor- prizes.
gey on his first two holes from 14 feet off the front Luke List (65) and Bryan ing title. The world No. 1 “It means so much to me
to lose the lead he had fringe. Blaum (66) tied for fourth already had wrapped up because like to be honest,
held through the first three The 39-year-old Howell also at 17 under and Tour rook- player of the year honors, after 2016 I never expect-
rounds. won in 2002 at Kingsmill. ie Cameron Champ, who and finished 2018 with a ed anything,” Jutanugarn
took the lead after Howell’s 69.415 scoring average to said. “I feel like I achieve
early stumbles and was in edge Minjee Lee (69.747) like too much already in
a four-way tie for first with for the top spot there. my life, so I never think I
Howell, Rodgers and Simp- Jutanugarn shot a 66 on can do anything more
son with seven holes to play Sunday, finishing the week than that. So this year ...
shot 69 and finished alone tied for fifth at 12-under just like unbelievable.” q
in sixth at 16 under.q