Golf

Mark O’Meara, 62, seized control with five birdies on the front nine and closed with a 7-under 66 for a four-shot victory in the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona, his first victory on the PGA Tour Champions in more than eight years.

Defending champion and Madison resident Steve Stricker shot a 1-under 72, leaving him in a group two shots off the lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Champions Cologuard Classic in Tucson, Arizona.

Dustin Johnson struggled early, caught a good break from behind a tree and then breezed to his sixth World Golf Championship title Sunday by closing with a 5-under 66 for a five-shot victory over Rory McIlroy in the Mexico Championship.

Stricker will lead the U.S. team in the 2020 event at Whistling Straits.

Stricker officially was appointed Ryder Cup captain Wednesday morning in Milwaukee, an hour south of where the Americans will try to win back the Ryder Cup in 2020 at Whistling Straits.

The 2020 Ryder Cup will be played at Whistling Straits near Kohler.

Captain Tiger Woods has added former captains Fred Couples and Steve Stricker as assistants for the U.S. team for the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia, December 9-15, 2019.

Smoltz, who was inducted into Cooperstown in 2015 following a 22-year career in the major leagues, will play in the Am Fam event June 21-23 at University Ridge Golf Course.

Woods was pleased with his day overall on the tougher South Course of the public layout on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean.

No moment last year captivated golf as much as Woods finishing off his improbable comeback by winning the final PGA Tour event of the season at the Tour Championship. And then it was time to move on.

Stricker, a Madison resident and Edgerton native who is about to turn 52, played 13 times on the PGA Tour and six times on the Champions in his first year of eligibility. Last year, he was up to seven Champions event and one fewer on the PGA Tour.

Prior to the 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii, Madison's Steve Stricker says he plans to play as long as he feels he can still compete on the PGA Tour.

Sources told Golf Digest the “conventional thought” is Mickelson and Woods would play as a pair against two challengers, but the two rivals remaining on opposite sides is still also an option. 

Phil Mickelson beat Tiger Woods in overtime Friday in their $9 million pay-per-view match in Las Vegas that ended up free for many viewers because of technical problems.

Europe's 17½-10½ win over the U.S. was the biggest Ryder Cup rout in 12 years.

Everything points to Europe taking back the precious gold trophy on Sunday, starting from a 10-6 lead that requires Europe to win only 4 1/2 points from the 12 singles matches on the final day.

Woods dropped all three of his matches over the first two days, cut down each time by Europe's most dynamic combination, mullet-sporting Tommy Fleetwood and British Open champion Francesco Molinari.

The cheers at Le Golf National ramped up to a feverish pitch as Europe swept all four matches Friday afternoon for a 5-3. It was the first time Europe swept a session since 1989, and the first time ever at the Ryder Cup in foursomes.