NEW ORLEANS — England's Justin Rose held off a string of challengers with a clutch birdie-birdie finish to win his seventh PGA Tour title by one shot at the weather-disrupted Zurich Classic of New Orleans in Avondale, Louisiana, Sunday. Tied for the lead when the delayed third round was completed earlier on a marathon day at the TPC Louisiana, Rose closed with a flawless six-under-par 66 on a receptive, rain-softened layout where preferred lies were permitted throughout the tournament. The world No. 9, a runner-up at this month's Masters, posted a 22-under total of 266, then waited for the last few groups to finish before he could celebrate his victory. “It's an event I have played many times and I feel like, year-on-year, I've been getting closer and closer (to winning),” a smiling Rose told CBS Sports. Cameron Tringale, one of five players who held at least a share of the lead in the final round, eagled the par-five seventh on the way to a 65 and second place at 21 under, ending up a stroke in frontof fellow American Boo Weekley (65). Australian world No. 6 Jason Day, the highest-ranked player in the field who shared the 54-hole lead with Rose, signed off with a 69 to tie for fourth at 19 under with American Jim Herman (65). As expected, the final round turned out to be a slug-fest with conditions ideal for low scoring. Rose edged one stroke clear of a tightly bunched leaderboard with a timely birdie at the par-three 17th where he struck a five-iron from 210 yards to 10 feet, then coolly sank the putt before pumping his right fist in celebration. He then drained a 14-footer to birdie the par-five 18th and punched his right arm skywards in delight. Ko claims 7th LPGA title Lydia Ko secured a late birthday present when she birdied the second extra hole to beat American Morgan Pressel in a playoff at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in California Sunday. Two days after turning 18, the South Korean-born Kiwi successfully defended her title and picked up a seventh LPGA victory in the process. Pressel, however, will be ruing the birthday gifts she offered Ko by squandering two chances for victory. The American missed a 15-foot birdie putt at the final regulation hole, the par-five 18th, and also missed from inside 10 feet at the first extra hole. Eight years ago, Pressel became the youngest player to win a major at the age of 18 but she has only triumphed once since and remains without a victory since 2008. Ko showed why she is worthy of her world No. 1 ranking when she sank a clutch eight-foot birdie at the 18th to force extra holes, after earlier sinking a 40-footer at the 15th that took a sharp right-hand turn and dropped in on the final roll. The New Zealander carded a two-under 70 and Pressel shot a 72 with the pair finishing on eight-under 280, one ahead of the long-time leader Brooke Henderson, the Canadian teenager dropping back with a final round of 74. — Agencies
