Daniel Berger expressed surprise after becoming the fourth player to successfully defend his title at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis on Sunday. He shot a bogey-free four-under-par 66 to emerge top of a crowded leaderboard for a one-shot victory over South African Charl Schwartzel (66) and South Korean Kim Meen-whee (67). On a day when Phil Mickelson was tied for the lead until a triple-bogey at the 12th, Berger finished at 10-under 270 at TPC Southwind in Tennessee, joining Dave Hill, Lee Trevino and David Toms as back-to-back winners of an event that started in 1958. «I'm one-for-one defending titles, so that's a pretty good stat," Berger joked after securing his second PGA Tour victory at the age of 24. «I can't believe I won again. It's been a battle. I'm extremely proud." Berger revealed that he had cracked his driver pre-tournament, but found a more than adequate replacement club. He will head with renewed confidence to the US Open starting at Erin Hills in Wisconsin on Thursday, while Schwartzel will also have a spring in his step after his near miss. Mickelson, meanwhile, admitted he had become unusually flustered after seeing a leaderboard on the 11th hole that showed him tied for the lead. He promptly dropped three strokes at the par-four 12th and shot 68, finishing three shots behind Berger. Mickelson, 46, still looks like missing the US Open, the only major he needs to complete the career grand slam of all four modern majors. He thinks he needs a four-hour weather delay in the first round on Thursday to make it for his tee time after he attends his daughter's high school graduation ceremony in southern California. Jobe wins senior event for 1st title in 19 years Brandt Jobe could only laugh as he watched Scott McCarron, his old college roommate, rush up the leaderboard and threaten to steal the Principal Charity Classic out from under him in Des Moines, Iowa. But Jobe stayed steady and, armed with a new putter, closed out the win he had sought for nearly two decades. Jobe won the PGA Tour Champions event by one shot Sunday, finishing at 14-under 202 for his first victory in 19 years. He shot 69 in the final round at the Wakonda Club to end a winless drought that had stretched back to 1998, when he won a tournament in Japan. McCarron, the 2016 champion, placed second at 13 under after shooting a final round 66 — the day›s best score. Kevin Sutherland holed out for an eagle on No. 18 to join McCarron at 203. Money leader Bernhard Langer finished at 12 under, while Scott Verplank, Tom Lehman and Steve Flesch were another shot back. Langer, who was attempting to become the first senior golfer in seven years to win three consecutive starts, closed with a 67. «I was pleased with most of what I did,» Langer said. «I just didn›t quite have it in me.» Jutanugarn wins LPGA event with monster birdie in playoff Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand sank a monster birdie putt to win a playoff at the Manulife LPGA Classic on Sunday and almost certainly assume the world No. 1 ranking. Ariya put her right hand to her mouth in disbelief and then burst into tears after holing a 30-footer at the first extra hole to outlast American Lexi Thompson and South Korean Chun In-gee in Cambridge, Ontario. Ariya's joy stood in stark contrast to the disappointment felt by Thompson, who frittered away a two-shot lead in regulation by three-putting the final two holes for two bogeys. Ariya carded a closing three-under-par 69 in breezy conditions at Whistle Bear, while Thompson shot 72 and Chun 70. They all finished at 17-under 271. Ariya is almost certain to take over from Lydia Ko as the world No. 1 when the rankings are updated on Monday. Ariya was set to take over last Monday, but ended up staying at number two after the ranking projections were bungled. The 21-year-old from Bangkok has now had six LPGA victories, all since the start of last season. Ariya would not have had a chance to win on Sunday if Thompson had not suffered a meltdown, her jangled nerves betraying her when under pressure with the putter. Thompson lipped out a five-foot putt at the penultimate hole and had a chance to make amends with a four-footer to win it at the last but hit a poor putt to fall back into the playoff. — Agencies
