Golf Capsules

August 24, 2009

SUGAR GROVE, Ill -Morgan Pressel delivered the clinching point with her 3-and-2 victory over Anna Nordqvist on Sunday, and the Americans won their third straight Solheim Cup with a 16-12 decision over Europe.

After Nordqvist missed an 8-footer to keep the match going, Pressels teammates, who had been watching at the side of the green, leaped up and started celebrating.

Michelle Wie, whose 3-0-1 record was the best of any American this week, grabbed a U.S. flag and held it aloft to cries of Wheee! from the crowd. As the last three matches finished, there were shrieks of joy when the next American joined the party, and new rounds of U-S-A! U-S-A!

When the last match was done, they ran around the 18th green hugging each other and waving American flags. The fans at Rich Harvest Farms, so boisterous all week, serenaded the players with more chants and applause.

Wyndham Championship

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Ryan Moore won for the first time on the PGA Tour with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Kevin Stadler.

Moore - who vaulted up the leaderboard with five consecutive birdies on the back nine - had two chances to seal the victory after his approach on No. 18 landed in the middle of the green and rolled to 6 feet. He sank that putt for his first victory in his 112th event.

Stadlers second shot on the third playoff hole skipped off the back of the green. He chipped within 20 feet, but his putt drifted to the low side of the cup.

That cleared the way for Moore to pick up $918,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points for winning the final tournament before the playoffs start later this week.

Stadler, Moore and Jason Bohn forced the playoff after they were tied at 16-under 264 through 72 holes. Bohn was eliminated on the first playoff hole after he had trouble escaping the greenside bunker on No. 18 and his first shot rolled back into the sand.

Sergio Garcia blew a three-stroke lead midway through the final round, shot a 70 and finished at 265. Michael Allen (68), Kevin Sutherland (66), Fred Couples (67), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Justin Rose (68) were at 266.

Champions Tour

SUNRIVER, Ore. - Mike Reid made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat John Cook and win the Jeld-Wen Tradition for his second career major on the Champions Tour.

Reid raised both hands and let out a deep sigh before humbly removing his cap and shaking Cooks hand at Crosswater Golf Club in central Oregon.

Reids two majors - he also won the 2005 Senior PGA Championship - are his only two wins on the tour.

Cooks approach shot on the playoff hole, No. 18, came to rest about 15 feet away and his downhill putt for birdie missed just left.

Reid shot a final-round 70 and Cook had a 69 to finish at 16-under 272.

Nationwide Tour

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Michael Sim played his way onto the PGA Tour.

The Australian shot a 4-under 67 to win his third Nationwide Tour event this season, taking the Christmas in October Classic by two strokes.

Josh Teaters 66 followed a 63 the day before, but wasnt enough to catch Sim, who had only two bogeys all weekend and none in the final 45 holes to take home $112,500.

Sim, the Nationwide money leader, won promotion to the PGA Tour for the remainder of this season and next season, the ninth golfer on the Nationwide Tour to do so.

Michael Clark II shot a 63 to take third at 16-under 268, followed a stroke back by Blake Adams (66) and one more by Chad Collins (67).

Sal Spallone (67), Hunter Haas (70) and Steve Wheatcroft (71) were all tied at 271.

European Tour

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands - Englands Simon Dyson came from six shots back to win the KLM Open, beating Irelands Peter Lawrie and Swedens Peter Hedblom in a playoff.

After six birdies in his first 12 holes, Dyson matched a course record with a 7-under 63 and then birdied the first extra hole for his second title at the KLM Open.

Lawrie was one ahead of Dyson with three to play until he bogeyed the 16th, while Hedblom lost his fourth career playoff by missing a 25-foot putt.