Luke Donald defends title at Dunlop Phoenix

MIYAZAKI, Japan -- Luke Donald shot a 5-under 66 on Sunday to defend his title at the Dunlop Phoenix and earn his first victory of the year.

Heading into the final round with a two-stroke lead, Donald had seven birdies and two bogeys at the par-71 Phoenix Country Club to finish at 14-under 270 on the Japan Tour.

Kim Hyung-sung of South Korea finished second at 8 under after a final-round 70. Shingo Katayama shot a 65 to finish third, one stroke behind Kim.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Japan's Shunsuke Sonoda tied for fourth.

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Kisner holds on for win at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Kevin Kisner made a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole for a 2-over 74 and a one-stroke victory over Chesson Hadley at the Pebble Beach Invitational on Sunday.

''I wish I would had about a six-stroke lead, so it wasn't so stressful,'' said Kisner, who rejoined the PGA Tour this season. ''The back nine was playing brutally hard. I just got unlucky.''Kisner began the day with a two-stroke lead and finished at 13-under 275 after a tumultuous final round in the tournament featuring 80 professionals from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Web.com tours.

Kisner, who had a tournament-low 64 Saturday at Spyglass Hill, moved to 17 under and a six-stroke margin after 11 holes. But he bogeyed the 12th, double-bogeyed the 14th and bogeyed the 17th.

''I just hung in there,'' said Kisner, who in March claimed his second Web.com Tour at the Chile Open in Santiago. ''Things like this always happen when you are in the hunt. Only when you are in a position to win does it seem to happen.''

Hadley shot a 70 and was four shots in front of Scott Langley (68) and William McGirt (73), who tied for third at 8 under.

Hadley, playing in the final group with Kisner, began the day trailing by five shots. But he remained steady while Kisner stumbled.

''When Kevin double-bogeyed 14, I definitely thought I still had a chance,'' said Hadley, a 2014 PGA Tour rookie. ''The conditions were tough out there, but I thought I had a chance on the 18th, but Kevin made a downhill 15-footer to win. My hat's off to him.''

Mina Harigae had a 71 to top LPGA finishers and finished tied for fifth with Sam Saunders (74) and Mark Brooks (70) at 281.

Brooks, who has won the event three times, moved into contention and was six under on the day and 11 under for the tournament halfway through the final round before faltering.

Tommy Armour III (68) and Kirk Triplett (72) were the top Champions Tour finishers and were among five players at 282.

Jason Kokrak started the day in second two shots back, but shot 80 and finished among seven players at 283.

Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, who has played in the event several times since retiring from the LPGA in 2008, finished at even par after a final-round 75.

Kisner earned $60,000 of the $300,000 purse.

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Golf-Day shares World Cup joy with grieving family

MELBOURNE, - Jason Day plans a few celebratory drinks after winning the $8 million World Cup of Golf on home soil on Sunday before turning his efforts to raising awareness for the devastated Philippines where eight of his relatives were killed by Typhoon Haiyan.

The grieving 26-year-old competed with a heavy heart at Royal Melbourne but played some of the finest golf of his life to seal the individual trophy by two strokes and drive Australia to a runaway victory in the team component.

Day's triumph was watched by his Filipino-born mother Dening, whose own mother was lost in the typhoon, and the pair shared an emotional embrace by the 18th green after the final par-putt rolled in front of a roaring gallery.

Prior to the tournament, Day said he had hoped his team mate, world number two Adam Scott, would carry him through, but he ended up shouldering the load after the U.S. Masters champion opened with a four-over 75 including a nightmare quintuple bogey on the 12th.

Locked in a two-way battle with seasoned Dane Thomas Bjorn in the back nine, Day drained a seven-foot putt for a crucial par on the 16th to take a one-stroke lead and held on to celebrate an emotional victory.

"It feels great, I just really don't know what to think right now," the world number 18 told reporters after notching just his second PGA Tour win, three years after his maiden title at the Byron Nelson Championship.

"Today I learnt a lot about myself ... I am definitely going to embrace being a World Cup winner tonight and I won't go too crazy but I will definitely have a drink or two and, you know, right now I am just the happiest guy."

Day won $1.2 million for sealing individual honours at the biennial tournament, and will share another $600,000 with Scott for winning the team trophy.

"Right now we're in the process of doing something," Day said when asked about relief efforts in the Philippines.

"Definitely, we'll probably most likely set something up and definitely be giving some money or raising money and trying to raise awareness to what has really happened over there.

"The devastation and the tragedy that's gone on over in the Philippines is very difficult for us to see because we're living in such a great country.

"Once you know of someone or are related to someone who has gone through something like that it's very close to the heart."

Day and Scott's triumph in the team event was Australia's fifth but first since Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady won in 1989.

Australian golfing luminary Peter Thomson, a five-times British Open winner who clinched the 1954 and 1959 trophies with compatriot Kel Nagle, was at Royal Melbourne to congratulate Day personally.

"He said that he was going to see his friend Kel Nagle and he was going to tell his friend about what he saw today," Day said of the 84-year-old.

"I replied I'd love to have five British Opens, too. He said 'At least get three'. So I have to kind of fulfil my promise there one day."

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Golf-Australia's Day wins emotional World Cup

MELBOURNE, - Australia's Jason Day rode an emotional wave of crowd support to shoot a final round 70 and win the World Cup of Golf on Sunday by two strokes at Royal Melbourne after an enthralling duel with Danish runnerup Thomas Bjorn.

Day, grieving the loss of eight relatives killed in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan, holed a nervy clutch putt for par on the par-four 16th to break a stroke clear of Bjorn and embraced his mother after rolling in the final putt on the 18th.

Day finished with a 10-under total of 274 for his first professional win in Australia, two strokes above Bjorn, who grafted an even-par 71.

Day's heroics also propelled Australia to a runaway 10-stroke victory over the United States in the team component. Denmark and Japan finished tied third, two strokes further behind.

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Holiday golf gifts for 2014

Here we are, the few weeks a year that I'm actually popular. (Well, the way I define "popular.)

Dozens of calls, emails, tweets, Facebook queries, texts, etc....all asking the same thing: "Hey John, what do I buy the golfer in my life?" (Incidentally, these requests are never about what they'd like to buy me...but I digress)

PGA.com will offer a plethora of GREAT ideas, very popular gifts, in our wide assortment of holiday gift guides. You're really not going to go wrong with a new set of clubs, a driver, a putter or a nice shirt or three. These lists have been put together by some of the finest minds in golf. But just between you and I, here's a listing of some items that won't get that much attention but your favorite golfer would love find under the tree (or wherever) come holiday time.

Best inexpensive but oh so worth it gift: ($20-$50)

Mittens: Wait, what? Actually, yes, I'm being serious here. As cold weather descends upon us - keeping the hands warm is critical for golf this time of year. But you want keeping them warm to be easy and quick. The amount of time and effort to get your hands in and out of a good pair of mittens is a fraction of the time it is for bigger gloves. They are always a "hot" seller at your local golf shop. Trust me, this one's an easy call.

Best gift that could change their game: ($100-$250)

Pull cart: Before you tell me this is an 'old man' gift...let me remind you, I'm old. No, but seriously.... Walking the course is an immensely enjoyable aspect of golf that so many miss out on. Many who walk claim it's the only way to play. Understandably, some simply don't because they are physically incapable. But the purchase of a pull cart (some are even motorized) allows the golfer to enjoy the walk without having to lift and/or carry the clubs during the round. It will reinvigorate the love of the game for many. I've recommended this purchase many times over the years. Every year, the same response has come back. "Thank You, he/she loves it."

Best gift they don't have but should: ($50-200)

Rain suit: "No thanks," I hear you say. "My ____ doesn't play golf when it rains." That's bull. Why? Well, 1.) They don't always know when rain is coming (I don't even care if they are a meteorologist. Actually, especially if they are a meteorologist.) And 2.) Why let a little rain stop you from playing a game you love? Hey, it's an outdoor sport...and battling the elements is supposed to be part of the challenge. Every golfer, I repeat...EVERY golfer, should have a decent rain suit.

Best money is no object gift: ($40,000-$50,000)

Golf simulator: There is no substitute for the fresh air and nice breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass and the satisfaction of fixing your ball mark a few inches from the cup. But man, these simulators are getting close. If you have the coin and the room, these "virtual reality" bays are great teaching, practice and to a great extent, playing tools for the golfer who just can't get enough.

Best gift to make a good gift a great gift: ($60-200)

I said I was not going to remark on golf shirts. I lied. Because there is one way to make a good gift (a golf shirt) a great gift: Put an impressive event logo on it. Want unique and cool? Get them a Gleneagles Ryder Cup 2014 shirt or jacket. It's a can't miss.

Best gift that keeps on giving: ($30-$200)

Commemmorate their golf life: Peg boards, ball racks, custom tee collectors; anything that a golfer can use to archive and show off all the golf courses that they've played. Golf is about experiences, memories. Showcasing them not only provides historical context to one's golf life but also provides incentive and goals for future golf. I have both ball racks and a peg board. I study them, plan on how to add to them, celebrate the acheivements they represent. Trust me, this is a no-brainer. Every golfer needs one.

Best lifetime memory gift: ($2000-$5000)

A Bucket List trip: There is not a golfer in America that wouldn't love, love, love to open a little box and see a couple of plane tickets, receipts for tee times and a hotel confirmation that sends them to Pinehurst/Pebble/Bandon/Kiawah, etc. If you want to win the greatest gift ever award (and this is an actual prize I think) - this is it.

The very best gift - bar none: ($40-$1000)

A better golf game: Whether a one-hour lesson, a subscription to the PGA Digital Golf, Academy or a five-lesson series with a PGA Professional, or a three-day trip to a great golf school - the single best gift (yes, I know I'm kind of contradicting the Bucket List trip) any golfer can get is a better golf game. Becoming a better player is the gift that lasts a lifetime and facilitates more enjoyment of every other gift and includes dozens of other opportunities. It simply does not get better than that.

Wishing you and yours the greatest gifts over the holidays...and even more importantly, a safe and loving time with those you love the most. Looking forward to a great 2014 with each of you.

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Day seals emotional World Cup win for Australia

MELBOURNE - Australia's Jason Day fended off Danish challenger Thomas Bjorn and rode an emotional wave of crowd support to win the World Cup of Golf by two strokes at Royal Melbourne on Sunday.

World number 18 Day, mourning the loss of eight relatives killed in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan, broke clear of the tenacious Bjorn on the par-four 16th with a nerveless clutch putt for par before holding firm in the final holes.

After tapping in the winning putt on the 18th, the 26-year-old raised his arms aloft in triumph and embraced his grieving mother by the green as a huge gallery of home fans roared their approval.

"For her to be out here over the weekend, and even to have my sisters and my nephew to be here as a family, knowing that I can hold them is very special to me," Day told reporters after winning his second PGA Tour title on another breezy, sunny day at the famed sandbelt course.

"The biggest thing right now is to know that I just didn't give up. It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what has been going on over the last week -- just to be up there with my mum and support her.

"But I really wanted to come down here and play with Adam (Scott) and really try to win the World Cup and we achieved that which was great."

Day's one-under round of 70 left him with a 10-under total of 274 in the $8 million biennial tournament where players have competed for individual honors after previously being solely a team event.

Australia's Jason Day reacts after playing his approach to the 18th green on his way to winning the …

Collecting a $1.2 million winner's cheque, Day will also share $600,000 with world number two and compatriot Scott after the pair combined to drive their home nation to a runaway 10-stroke win over the United States in the team component.

Denmark and Japan finished joint third, two strokes further adrift.

Having suffered an embarrassing quintuple-bogey in his opening round of 75, U.S. Masters champion Scott finished strongly with a 66 to finish outright third three strokes behind Day.

World number seven Matt Kuchar, who won the last World Cup for the United States with Gary Woodland in China, scratched out an even-par 71 to finish a further stroke adrift in outright fourth.

ROLLER-COASTER START

Overnight leader by a stroke from the seasoned Bjorn, Day had a roller-coaster start with two bogeys and two birdies in his first five holes, but charged clear of his playing partner when he holed an approach on the first bounce for an eagle on the short par-four sixth.

That put him four strokes ahead, but the Australian stumbled badly on the par-four 10th with a double-bogey after hitting into a thick tangle of scrub left of the fairway.

Bjorn pounced to claw back a share of the lead with birdies on 11 and 13, the latter courtesy of a delightful approach shot that settled a foot from the pin.

However, the 42-year-old Dane was left to rue a wayward tee-shot on the tricky par-four 16th that landed in the woods right of the fairway and led to a bogey.

Day also wobbled, pushing his approach into a wide greenside bunker but rallied with a brilliant up-and-down, landing his recovery about seven feet from the pin and draining the tough downhill putt to take a one-stroke lead with two holes to play.

Bjorn's challenge ended decisively with an errant approach on the tricky par-four 18th that led to another bogey, allowing Day the luxury of a pressure-free par-putt to seal his first professional win on home soil.

"Obviously a fraction disappointed," Bjorn said. "But as a whole it's been a great week. It's been a great pleasure to play on this golf course the way it has played this week and I couldn't be happier for Jason winning.

"He has gone through a rough time of late and for him to even be here is a big thing and then to go and win a golf tournament and for them to win the team event as well, that's what you want to see."

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'Wild Thing' continues comeback in South Africa

MALELANE, South Africa -- John Daly will play in the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship this week as he comes back from elbow surgery.

The American got off to a promising start at last month's BMW Masters in his return to golf, before fading over the weekend to finish 5 over and in a tie for 48th.The two-time major winner is in the field at Leopard Creek Golf Club near Kruger National Park in northern South Africa for only his second tournament since an operation in July to repair a shattered tendon in his right elbow.

''I'm really fresh and I want to play,'' Daly said Monday. ''I don't want to waste the end of this year. I'd like to get something going for the end of this year so I can get on track for next year.''

Daly returns to South Africa for the first time since the early 1990s, when he won a couple of tournaments to kick-start his career.

It's been nearly a decade since the 1991 PGA Championship winner and '95 British Open champion won on the U.S. or European tours, but he showed encouraging signs at the BMW Masters in China by opening with a 68.

He goes up against 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and Brendon de Jonge this week, but the Leopard Creek course could suit him.

''It's a ball striker's golf course,'' Daly said after his first look at the layout. ''You've got to hit the fairways. And the greens are tricky. It's the kind of course where you'd almost prefer a 20-footer to a 10-footer on these greens.''

The Alfred Dunhill is the second of three straight tournaments in South Africa to start the new European season and the 2014 Race to Dubai.

Morten Orum Madsen won the South African Open on Sunday, while Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Schwartzel and De Jonge are part of a 30-man field at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City on Dec. 5-8.

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Schwartzel puts himself in line for first home Open title

JOHANNESBURG - Home favourite Charl Schwartzel will take a one-stroke lead into Sunday's final round of the South African Open after carding a third-round 69 for a 15-under-par total of 201 that sets him up for a title that has previously eluded him.

The 29-year-old Schwartzel, who is the highest-ranked South African golfer but has never won his country's open championship, leads from Italian Marco Crespi and Dane Morten Orum Madsen after five birdies in his round on Saturday.

Crespi, who came through the qualifying school this month, had shared the overnight lead on Friday with Schwartzel but slipped one stroke back as he battled with his putting. Madsen hit a 69 for a 14-under total of 202.

Former champion Hennie Otto, who won in 2011, hit the best round on Saturday despite taking seven shots at the ninth hole of the Glendower Country Club course on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

Otto moved into fourth place after birdying seven of the last eight holes for 65.

Twice U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen was six shots off the lead.

The tournament is the first of the 2014 European Tour and one of eight being played in South Africa over the next four months.

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Feng shoots 66 and wins LPGA Tour finale

NAPLES, Fla. — The only trouble Shanshan Feng faced Sunday was figuring out how to light the cannon that signaled the end of the LPGA Tour season.

She made the golf look easy at the LPGA Titleholders.

Two shots behind going into the final round, the 24-year-old from China ran off four birdies in the opening six holes to seize control, and she closed with a 6-under 66 to win by one shot and claim the richest prize in women's golf.

It also was her second win this year, which meant as much to her as the $700,000 check.

"I had a goal to win two tournaments," she said. "I won in China. I didn't think I was going to achieve my goal, and I made it in my last tournament in Florida."

Feng said her win last month in Beijing required a little luck — a shot that took a weird and wild bounce out of the rough, raced across the green and crashed into the flagstick to set up a tap-in eagle.

Sunday was sheer skill.

Feng was in such control of her game that she missed three birdie chances inside 6 feet in the middle of her round that kept the outcome in doubt until the end. Gerina Piller stayed within one shot of Feng, and she hit a 7-iron into 10 feet for a chance at birdie to force a playoff. The putt narrowly missed, and Piller had to settle for a 69 and her best finish on the LPGA Tour.

Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand had a 70 and finished alone in third.

Feng finished at 15-under 273, the number she had in mind at the start of the day — even if it didn't result in a win.

"Before I started, I never thought I was going to win," Feng said. "I knew I was only two behind. But I thought all the people in the last group were really strong competitors."

No one was stronger than Feng, who played the final 31 holes without a bogey.

Natalie Gulbis, tied for the 54-hole lead with Pornanong and Piller, wasn't up to the task. Going for her first win in six years, Gulbis didn't make a birdie until the 14th hole, and by then she couldn't stop a spectacular slide. Gulbis closed with an 82.

Stacy Lewis had to settle for only one prize. The Women's British Open champion became the first American since Beth Daniel in 1994 to win the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. She had to win to capture the money list, but after an early birdie, Lewis never regained any momentum. She closed with a 71 and tied for sixth.

"As Americans, we hear about that all the time — it's been 18 years or it's been 20 years or whatever it is," Lewis said. "I'm just glad to have that kind of checked off the list. We've got to get American golf on the map. That's been the goal and I'm just fortunate I've been playing good golf."

Inbee Park, who clinched player of the year last week in Mexico, had a 68 to finish fifth. She won the LPGA Tour money title.

The only other award at stake Sunday was rookie of the year. That went to Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand, who closed with a 72. She won by one point over Caroline Masson of Germany.

Feng just stole the show on the final day of the season.

As winner of the CME Group Titleholders, she lit the cannon to signal the end of the year. That proved far more difficult than the 7-iron she hit into 8 feet for birdie on the 15th, or that pitch up the slope on the 17th hole that led to her final birdie.

"I was really nervous," she said. "I don't know how I did it. Once it touched the thing and then it just went out in like a half a second, and I was shocked it released so fast and it was gone already. I was really excited."

As for that paycheck?

Feng says she is not a big spender and said she would put it in the bank, perhaps buy herself a small gift later.

Piller put up a good fight. She stuffed her approach on No. 15 to within 4 feet for birdie to pull within one shot. Feng was in the group ahead and went over the green on her second shot into the par-5 17th, and then hit a chip that settled within tap-in range to reach 15 under. Piller matched her birdie at the 17th with a solid up-and-down from a collection area, but she couldn't get that last birdie to force a playoff.

"I was happy with the way I hit the putt," Piller said. "I just didn't read enough break."

The win should take Feng to No. 4 in the world.

Park, who went into a minor slump after winning her third straight major at the U.S. Women's Open, closed out her LPGA season with two top 10s. She still has one event left in Taiwan before taking a long winter's break, with plans to go to Australia to prepare for next season.

She won the money title for the second straight season.

"I played better this year," Park said. "There is definitely room to improve for next year and I probably have a little more pressure on me next year, but I think I have a lot of pressure this year, anyways. A little bit more doesn't really make a difference for me."

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Feng ends her season with a (cannon) bang

NAPLES, Fla. -- Shanshan Feng of China set a goal to win twice on the LPGA Tour in one season, which she accomplished in her final four starts of the year.

Her first win was before a hometown crowd in Beijing and required no small amount of luck. Trailing most of the day, she hit a shot on the final hole that she figured was in the water. It barely cleared the hazard, took a weird and wild hop out of the rough, was running fast across the green and struck the pin to settle tap-in distance away for an eagle and a one-shot win over Stacy Lewis.The two wins could not have been any more different.

''I think it was magic,'' she said.

Sunday at the LPGA Titleholders was sheer skill.

Starting the final round two shots behind and never thinking it was her tournament to win, the 24-year-old Feng ran off four birdies in six holes to take the lead, missed three birdie putts inside 6 feet that could have put it away, and then held off Gerina Piller with two birdies over the final four holes at Tiburon Golf Club.

Feng closed with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot win over Piller to claim $700,000, the richest prize in women's golf.

''I actually didn't think I was going to achieve my goal, but I made it at the last minute at the last tournament in Florida, so I'm really, really happy,'' Feng said.

The only trouble she faced was figuring out how to light the cannon that signaled the end of the LPGA Tour season. Feng was given that duty as the winner of the CME Group Titleholders, and once she was shown how, she was shocked at how quickly she heard the boom.

Feng wasn't the only winner this week along the gulf shores of Florida. Here were the five biggest winners:

FLAWLESS FENG: Feng played the final 31 holes without a bogey to make up ground on a strong leaderboard that included some of the best in women's golf. She only needed three holes to take the lead, and she came up with two big shots down the stretch. Her 7-iron into the 15th stopped 8 feet away for a birdie to give her a two-shot lead, and then she hit a touch pitch behind the green on the par-5 17th that set up a tap-in birdie.

Those were important, because Piller made birdie on both in the group behind Feng to stay within range.

Feng only wanted to get to 15-under 273, win or lose, and it turned out to be a winner. She is expected to go to No. 4 in the world ranking, and her $700,000 check allowed her to finish the season at No. 4 on the money list.

AMERICAN GIRL: Lewis shot a 63 on Saturday that all but wrapped up the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average. She was in position Sunday to win the tournament until a bogey on the front nine that slowed her momentum, and Lewis never got it back.

Even so, she closed with a 71 to tie for sixth and became the first American since Beth Daniel in 1994 to win the Vare Trophy.

''As Americans, we hear about that all the time - it's been 18 years or it's been 20 years or whatever it is,'' Lewis said. ''I'm just glad to have that kind of checked off the list. We've got to get American golf on the map. That's been the goal and I'm just fortunate I've been playing good golf.''

INBEE PARK: Inbee Park closed with a 68 to finish fifth, but she was a winner all week. Park, who won three straight majors among her six wins this year, clinched the LPGA player of the year last week in Mexico. On Friday night at the Ritz-Carlton, she delivered one of the most moving acceptance speeches, including this line, ''As soon as happiness became my goal, I achieved more things than ever.''

Park wound up winning the LPGA Tour money title for the second straight year, both times going over $2 million

PILLER'S BEST: Piller just bought a house in Texas and figured the $700,000 would go a long way toward paying that off. She came close. With birdies on the 15th and 17th holes, she stayed within one shot of Feng and at least gave herself a shot at a playoff on the 18th. From behind a small native bush, the wind at her back, she hit 7-iron from 162 yards from 10 feet and narrowly missed the putt. It didn't go in, but the stroke was not tentative.

Piller finished the year by playing in her first Solheim Cup team, and her runner-up finish at the Titleholders was the best of her career.

LOOKING AHEAD: One of the highlights of the season-ending event was the announcement of the 2014 schedule. In previous years, the schedule was so tenuous that it wasn't announced until January. LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan and his staff put together a 32-event schedule, up nine tournaments from two years ago.

The LPGA returns at the end of January in The Bahamas.

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Jason Day reminds us why we love sports

Early Sunday morning on the East Coast, the idea of a professional golf tournament being played live in Australia wasn't the top thing on most people's minds.

This time of year is reserved for football and Thanksgiving and figuring out your travel plans for the week, not for something called the World Cup of Golf that was being played in a place that is warm and sunny and wonderful.

But Sunday marked a pretty special moment for all of sports, as Jason Day picked up his first professional win since 2010 thanks to some gritty play down the stretch at the wonderful Royal Melbourne, capped off by a ridiculously clutch second shot into the tough 18th to set up a two-putt par and both the individual title and the team title for Australia alongside Adam Scott.

The win isn't supposed to be a blip on your radar. Golf fans went into hibernation weeks ago, putting their clubs in the closet for jackets and mittens and snow shovels. But Day's win is significant simply because the guy has been on a roller coaster of emotions the last two weeks.

Day lost eight family members including his grandmother to Typhoon Haiyan when it slammed into the Philippines earlier this month. Day released a statement about what was going on in his personal life, but he had committed to playing in this event with the Masters champion and couldn't really back out. If you've ever had a minute to chat with Day you know that isn't his style. He's one of the good guys on tour, the type of kid that seems to totally understand who he is and what he's about.

A lot of people including myself are baffled that Day has only one PGA Tour win in his career, simply because his talent level is up there with the Rorys and the Adams and the Dustins of the golf world.

Two seasons ago Day finished in second place at both the Masters and the U.S. Open. This year Day finished third at the Masters, T-2 at the U.S. Open and T-8 at the PGA Championship. The 26-year-old from Queensland, Australia isn't just a good player, he's a world beater that is just waiting for his moment to shine. Day has been there plenty of times, but it seems every time he's in that position to claim a tournament that would change his life another big name trumps him with some ridiculous run (see Charl Schwartzel's four birdies in '10, Scott's run in '13).

But major wins were the furthest thing on his mind when the final putt dropped on Sunday in Melbourne.

Day talked after the win about the importance of having his family around him this week, and why he decided to play instead of just withdrawing with a completely understandable reason.

''It's just been an amazing tournament for me,'' Day said. ''My mother, my family, coming down to support me. I'm just so happy the hard work has paid off, and I'm glad it happened in Melbourne.

''It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what has been going on over the last week,'' Day said. ''But I really wanted to come down here and play."

This is one of those rare instances where sports just seems to take a man, and a family, in mourning and simply comfort them. Day had never won a professional golf tournament in Australia, but he seemed to understand Royal Melbourne this week, pulling off some incredible shots like the one you see below with a soft touch around these links-style greens.

His win isn't just incredible considering what Day has gone through over the last two weeks, but it's great for the immediate future of golf. Not many 20-somethings are on the short list of potential major winners in 2014, but Day has to be one of those names, especially after notching his first pro win in three years.

Sunday wasn't just a big win for Day and Australia, but a huge win for sports, reminding us why we tune in for hours on end every week in hopes of seeing someone triumph in the midst of tragedy.

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Golf-Dane Madsen gets first European Tour win in South Africa

Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen claimed his first European Tour victory with a two-shot win at the South African Open Championship on the outskirts of Johannesburg on Sunday.

Madsen had looked an unlikely winner earlier in the day but home favourites Hennie Otto and Charl Schwartzel both squandered three-shot leads to gift him the title.

He carded a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in his fourth round for a total of 269, two shots ahead of South Africans Jbe Kruger and Otto.

With his father watching from the gallery, the 25-year-old Madsen beat his previous best finish of second at the Madeira Open in May.

"It's been an amazing day, it hasn't sunk in. Coming down here I didn't expect to win," Madsen said at the trophy presentation.

"Schwartzel looked like he was just going to go off... I was just trying to hang on and see if I could stay within two or three shots. Unfortunately for him he struggled on a couple of holes and got some bad breaks. Luckily for me I was there to capitalise."

Overnight leader Schwartzel, searching for his first win in his home championship, carded a disappointing final-round 71, which included a triple bogey on the sixth hole and a double on the 10th, to finish in tied fourth with Italian Marco Crespi.

Otto, who led by three shots going into the final four holes, dropped a shot on the 15th and double-bogeyed the next hole to allow Madsen to take over at the top of the leaderboard. (Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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Luke Donald breaks his duck with back-to-back Dunlop wins

Miyazaki (Japan) - Luke Donald, the 2011 European and US tour money leader, clinched his first win of the year by defending his title at the Japan tour's $2 million Dunlop Phoenix tournament on Sunday.

Going out with an overnight two-stroke lead over South Korea's Kim Hyung-Sung, the 35-year-old Englishman rolled in seven birdies against a pair of bogeys in the final round to win the $400,000 purse with a total of 14-under-par 270.

Kim finished six strokes off the pace at 276, with Japan's Shingo Katayama third at 277 after four rounds on the 7,027-yard, par-71 Phoenix Country Club course.

"I'm very excited. My last win as a professional was last year at the Dunlop," Donald said. "It's great to come here and win again. This is a great tournament with some great winners and I'm very proud to have won it back-to-back now."

He was the first player to win the Dunlop, one of Japan's richest tournaments, for two straight years since American superstar Tiger Woods triumphed in 2004 and 2005.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Shunsuke Sonoda of Japan tied for fourth at 280.

Japan tour money leader Hideki Matsuyama was bunched one stroke further back with Australian Brad Kennedy and South Korea's Lee Kyoung-Hoon.

With two tournaments remaining in this year's Japan tour calendar, 21-year-old rookie pro Matsuyama leads the money list with 161 million yen ($1.6 million), followed by Kim at 118 million yen and Katayama at 108 million yen.

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Feng wins Titleholder's championship

NAPLES, Fla. -- Shanshan Feng did not get a chance to see Gerina Piller's putt that would have tied her on the final hole in the CME Group Titleholder's championship.

The putt missed, and Feng held off the hard-charging Piller to win the LPGA's season-ending event at Tiburon Golf Resort on Sunday.The silence told her all she needed to know.

Feng shot a final-round 66 to finish 15-under for the tournament. She had six birdies on the day.

"I said I want to win more in the states on the LPGA, so I set a goal to win twice," Feng said. "I didn't win any before China but in the last four, I won two so that was amazing."

Feng earned a tour-high $700,000 with the victory but doesn't plan on spending much on herself.

"I'll put most of it in the bank and when I retire, I want to start an academy," she said.

Even though she accomplished her goal of a second victory this season, she said it was more important to her to shoot 15-under.

"If I did that, it didn't matter if I win or not," she said. "I did it. It didn't matter how Gerina was doing."

Feng did see Piller's approach on the final hole from 162 yards out from in front of a bush. Using a 7-iron from the rough on an upslope, Piller put her shot about 10 feet away.

"It was amazing," Feng said.

"I had some juices going," Piller said. "That's what you practice for. So I just stood over it and said, 'Just trust yourself.' I hit it pretty good and it ended up pretty good."

On the subsequent putt that missed by inches, Piller said, "I just didn't read enough break."

While disappointed she didn't win, the American still made $139,713 for finishing second.

Tied with Natalie Gulbis and Pornanong Phatlum after three rounds, Piller fell behind Sunday, then had birdies on three of her last six holes.

"To come out and grind like I did and give myself an opportunity to force a playoff, I'm pretty excited about that," she said. "I've been hitting my driver really well all week and I'm sure with nerves I was starting to hook it and it got me in trouble the first couple of holes. But I just knew that I hit it well all week and anything can happen out there."

Piller said Feng is super consistent.

"She's a major champion, so hats off to her," Piller said. "She played great today and I knew it was going to be tough."

Feng said she missed some birdie putts during the day that could have given her a larger cushion. However, she came up with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17 that proved crucial.

Phatlum finished third at 13-under and Sandra Gal was fourth at 12-under. Player of the Year Inbee Park finished fifth, at 11-under.

Cristie Kerr, Sun Young Yoo and Stacy Lewis came in at 10-under.

Lewis earned the Vare Trophy for lowest average score per round. She's the first American to win that award since Beth Daniel in 1994. Her scoring average of 69.484 is the eighth-best all time in LPGA history.

"It's awesome," Lewis said. "As Americans we hear about that all the time: It's been 18 years or it's been 20 years or whatever it is. I'm just glad to have that kind of checked off the list. We've got to get American golf on the map. That's been the goal and I'm just fortunate I've been playing good golf.

"I know I've been making a lot of birdies this year so I kind of didn't really realize what it was at for most of the year. The last few months I watched it and kept posting low numbers. Just to be a part of history is so cool. My name is now included among the greats of this game and it's an honor."

Gulbis, who began the day in a three-way tie for first, shot 10-over for the day.

Lydia Ko shot 2-under Sunday for a finish of 4-under. The teenager, who turned pro a month ago, made $16,063 with her first paycheck.

The LPGA Tour will start its 2014 season with the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic from Jan. 23-26.

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Jason Day wins World Cup at Royal Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia -- After nearly withdrawing due to a family tragedy, Jason Day made an emotional return to golf at the World Cup to win his first tournament in more than three years at Royal Melbourne on Sunday.

Day's last victory came at the Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour in 2010, although he's had four top-five finishes in majors since 2011.His 7-foot putt to save par on the 16th hole held off a faltering Thomas Bjorn. Day had a 70 for a 10-under total of 274. That was two strokes better than Denmark's Bjorn, who finished with a 71 after two late bogeys.

The World Cup was Day's first tournament in five weeks and came less than two weeks after he learned that eight of his relatives, including his grandmother, died in the devastating Nov. 9 typhoon in the Philippines.

His mother, who immigrated to Australia from the Philippines 30 years ago, and sister were just off the green on 18 at Royal Melbourne. They both hugged him as he walked to the scoring tent to sign his card.

''It's just been an amazing tournament for me,'' Day said. ''My mother, my family, coming down to support me. I'm just so happy the hard work has paid off, and I'm glad it happened in Melbourne.

Adam Scott from Australia lines up a put on the fourth green during the third round of the World Cup …

''It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what has been going on over the last week,'' he added. ''But I really wanted to come down here and play.''

Day's situation wasn't lost on Bjorn.

''Obviously a fraction disappointed, I didn't play that great today,'' Bjorn said. ''But I couldn't be happier for Jason winning. He has gone through a rough time of late and for him to even be here is a big thing and then to go and win a golf tournament ... that's what you want to see.''

Day's last tournament victory came at the Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour in 2010, although he's had four top-five finishes in majors since 2011.

Masters champion Adam Scott finished third after a 66, three strokes behind. Scott, who was trying to win his third tournament in a row, shot a 75 on the opening day, including a 9 on the 12th hole, and spent the rest of the tournament trying to catch up.

Jason Day of Australia hits an approach shot to the ninth green during the third round of the World …

Day earned $1.2 million for winning the individual title and helped Australia win the team portion of the World Cup. Day and Scott, who each holed approach shots for eagles Sunday, shared the $600,000 first-place team prize.

American Matt Kuchar shot a 71 to finish fourth in individual stroke-play, three behind Day.

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan (69) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand (70) finished tied for fifth, seven behind the winner.

Day led by four strokes after nine holes thanks to a big swing on the fifth and sixth. Day bogeyed the par-3 fifth after going into bunker and Bjorn birdied, leaving them tied for the lead.

But on the sixth, Day's gap wedge from about 80 yards hit the green once and rolled into the cup for eagle. Bjorn, who was in the rough with his tee shot, made bogey and the three-shot swing put the Australian back in the lead.

Matt Kuchar from the U.S. hits an approach shot on the second hole during the third round of the Wor …

On the next hole, Day increased his lead to four over Bjorn when the Danish player three-putted for bogey.

After making the turn with the four-shot lead, thanks to a 12-foot par-saving putt on nine, Day ran into big problems on the 10th when his tee shot went into the left rough. Trying to advance it up the fairway instead of chipping out sideways, he sent the ball but back into the rough.

He chipped back out to the fairway with his third shot, put his fourth on the green and two-putted for double-bogey. That reduced his lead to two shots over Scott and Bjorn, and birdies by Bjorn on 11 and 13 put both players level again until Bjorn's bogey on 16.

Scott, who holed out for eagle with his approach on the first hole Sunday, won the Australian PGA and Australian Masters in his first trip back home since winning at Augusta in April. He'll try to complete the Australian 'Triple Crown' of majors next week at Royal Sydney.

''It's been an incredible day,'' Scott said. ''Thanks Jason, you played so well this week.''

The last time the World Cup was captured by a host country was in 1996 when the South African team of Ernie Els and Wayne Westner won at Cape Town.

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What if golf had a bowl system?

We've reached the point of the college football season where fans are trying to figure out what bowl their team will be slotted in and whether that game will be worth going to.

We're also at the point in the season when a faction of people (as in, most of them) start clamoring for a college football playoff like every other sport, including golf, has.

But that got me to wondering about what every other sport would look like if it had a bowl system instead of a playoff and that led me to this: Creating a bowl system for the 2013 PGA Tour.

Here is what 25 bowls (I couldn't, in good conscience, go beyond the top 50 money leaders) would look like if filled with golfers based on how they did during the PGA Tour regular season money list.

This isn't a great great ranking system but hey, neither is the BCS. The golf bowls would work the same as college football: One title game that means something (Tiger Woods vs. Matt Kuchar) and 24 other meaningless, but sometimes fun, games.

Here they are...

National title

Tiger Woods vs. Matt Kuchar -- Unfortunately we wouldn't get Woods vs. Adam Scott to settle the player of the year debate but hey somebody has to be 2003 Auburn.

Rose Bowl

Phil Mickelson vs. Brandt Snedeker -- This is perfect for Mickelson -- He loves California, he loves classic events, and he went to a Pac-12 school.

Orange Bowl

Henrik Stenson vs. Bill Haas -- About as boring as the Orange Bowl has become in real life.

Fiesta Bowl

Adam Scott vs. Justin Rose -- Terrific matchup here and perfect for a Fiesta Bowl that has been given some amazing games over the last decade.

Sugar Bowl

Keegan Bradley vs. Billy Horschel -- So much emotion in this matchup. Your TV might combust before completion.

Cotton Bowl

Jason Day vs. Kevin Streelman -- Mimics real life. You have the powerhouse SEC-like Day and unheralded and sometimes misunderstood Big 12-like Streelman.

Capital One

Jason Dufner vs. Jordan Spieth -- Potentially the matchup of the entire bowl season. Two grossly talented ball strikers.

Outback

Boo Weekley vs. Dustin Johnson -- What a pairing here. If we didn't get a mic on at least one of these guys a la college football coaches then I'd be terribly disappointed.

Alamo

Steve Stricker vs. Hunter Mahan -- Really strong matchup here, just like the Alamo Bowl. Also a throwback Alamo Bowl game as Mahan went to a Big 12 school and Stricker to a Big 10 school.

Chick-fil-A

Webb Simpson vs. Zach Johnson -- If you said "pick two people to play in the Chick-fil-A bowl from the PGA Tour, these are the two I'd pick. Funny how these things work out.

Sun

D.A. Points vs. Jim Furyk -- I don't watch the Sun Bowl, I wouldn't watch this.

Gator

Graeme McDowell vs. Harris English -- Sneaky great matchup here. The Ulsterman vs. English, man, it would be great.

Music City

Jonas Blixt vs. Russell Henley -- Good matchup between two young potential stars.

Holiday

Lee Westwood vs. Patrick Reed -- PGA Tour wins: Westwood -- 2, Reed -- 1. That's weird, no?

Buffalo Wild Wings

Jimmy Walker vs. John Merrick -- Forgettable, like every Buffalo Wild Wings game ever.

Russell Athletic

Charles Howell III vs. Charl Schwartzel -- Two of the best swings in golf in this one. Would be a great, underrated matchup.

Belk

Angel Cabrera vs. David Lingmerth -- Two guys who dress like they shop at Belk.

Fight Hunger

Martin Laird vs. Ken Duke -- Duke is built like he's already fought, and destroyed, hunger.

Heart of Dallas

Sang-Moon Bae vs. Michael Thompson -- Perfect for Bae given that Dallas (site of his first win) will always have a special place in his heart.

Texas

Rory McIlroy vs. Scott Piercy -- McIlroy is the Georgia of golf. Has a ton of losses and makes you say "wait, he's better than this, right?" Shouldn't his record be better than this. To my knowledge McIlroy hasn't lost control of anything yet, though, so there's that.

Pinstripe

Rickie Fowler vs. Graham DeLaet -- And Fowler would likely wear a pinstripe outfit to honor the bowl name.

Military

Scott Stallings vs. Sergio Garcia -- Garcia in any format that has the camera on him for five straight hours is always a timebomb. I'm in on this.

Independence

Chris Kirk vs. Roberto Castro -- Gonna guess ESPN won't be sending Brent and Herbie to cover this one.

Armed Forces

Bubba Watson vs. Ryan Palmer -- Bubba Watson is the Florida of golf. "Wait, he made a bowl...wait...he made this bowl?"

Liberty

Chris Stroud vs. Charley Hoffman -- This is the "wait, why are they playing these bowls again?" portion of the schedule.

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Rory McIlroy and Oakley settle lawsuit

Rory McIlroy has been in the middle of a host of controversial issues this year but one of them came to an end on Sunday.

According to a joint statement from McIlroy and Oakley the two sides have come to an agreement. Pat McIlvain, VP of Oakley Sports Marketing said everything has been settled.

"We are very pleased the proceedings against Rory have been resolved. We enjoyed an excellent relationship with Rory as an Oakley brand ambassador."

McIlroy said he's glad to get the load off his shoulders.

"I always had an excellent working relationship with Oakley's representatives and I am delighted the case is now behind me."

The final numbers of the case were not released.

Ryan Ballengee of Golf News Net has a really great post noting the timeline of events between Oakley and McIlroy with cameos from Nike and McIlroy's old agent Conor Ridge.

Here's an overview:

Sometime before September 2012 (presumably) -- Oakley representatives (allegedly email) Ridge saying they're "out of the mix."

Saptember 2012 -- McIlroy signs with Nike

December 2012 -- Oakley sues McIlroy and Nike claiming violation of right of first refusal (basically McIlroy didn't give Oakley a chance to match Nike's offer even though these alleged emails imply they did).

November 2013 -- Oakley files motion to end case.

November 2013 -- Nike files proposal motion to end case claiming it did nothing wrong and was led on by Ridge.

Oh, and did I mention Ridge and McIlroy are suing each other in a separate case? Now I know why McIlroy said a few weeks ago he'd "seen enough lawyers to last a lifetime."

Nevertheless, McIlroy has to be thrilled to put the Oakley case behind him. It's just one less thing to think about in 2014 as he tries to rebound from a disappointing 2013.

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Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky attend AMA Awards

Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky were at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Gretzky was there because she presented an award with Ciara to Justin Timberlake and Dustin Johnson was there because he's her fiance.

Here's a photo of Gretzky presenting with Ciara (via Getty Images):

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10 things that excite us about 2014

2013 was a pretty incredible golf season. We got Tiger wins (lots of them), Tiger drama (it never ceased), four great major champions, two absolutely classic major finishes, a host of youngsters who hit the ground running, and a $20 million man.

I'm not sure we could have asked for a golf season to deliver more than this one did.

A number of things that happened this year excite me when it comes to next year but none more so than these 10:

1. Ryder Cup -- As boring as this year's Presidents Cup was it successfully whet my appetite for what's going to happen at Gleneagles in October. I cannot wait.

2. Tiger's chase for 18 -- It will always be the most interesting story in golf (sports?) until he retires. It's impossible to get away from and next year, for the first time, he's going to start hearing whispers of the big "four-oh" (he'll be 38 in December).

I think he finally gets No. 15 next year but I think it'll be too little, too late on his chase for Jack Nicklaus.

3. Jordan Spieth's ceiling -- As in, what is it? When you go from no Tour status to to No. 25 in the world golf rankings in nine months, people start questioning your ceiling. I think his is the highest at the youngest age since the guy I mentioned above.

4. Phil Mickelson's career slam bid -- It will be the dominant storyline from the day after Masters Sunday through the end of the US Open. Can Lefty conquer Pinehurst?

Part of me feels like he's putting a little too much stock into his bid instead of just letting it play out however it's going to play out. What do I know about Phil's psyche, though? What does anyone know about it?

5. How will Rory McIlroy rebound -- I feel a monster season coming from Rory. Maybe it's the way he carried himself in Asia at the end of the year or the way he had the quietest top 10 of all time at the DP World Championship but I feel a big-time year coming from Nike's No. 2 guy.

The good news for him is that it couldn't get much worse.

6. How the Rules of Golf continue to evolve -- The two big rules stories from 2013 were the elimination of belly putters and fans being able to call in penalties. The USGA and R&A haven't totally ruled on the latter but it's coming and when it does it will no doubt reverberate throughout the golf world. I don't envy Tim Finchem.

7. The idea of one world tour -- When Matt Kuchar first mentioned the possibility of one, united world tour I kind of did a double take. But the more I thought about it the more I started to dall in love with the idea.

There's no reason PGA Tour stars should feel confined to second-rate events in the US when some of the best courses and tournaments are being played overseas. No reason for fans to be held hostage to that, either.

8. Who is this year's Spieth -- Will it be Brooks Koepka or Peter Uihlein? Maybe, and whoever it is likely won't have the kind of season Spieth had in 2014, but it will probably be somebody we aren't thinking of yet. Somebody who may not even have tour status at the current time.

9. Drugs and golf -- I thought the sneaky-big story of the year was Vijay Singh basically accusing the tour of covering up positive PED tests, or not testing certain golfers at all. How was this not a bigger deal and how, as our culture continues to explore this morality of sports, will golf respond?

I don't think that story is going away anytime soon.

10. Who gets major No. 2 first -- Let's play a game: With your life on the line who would you pick to get their second major, first between Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley,Jason Dufner, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, and Webb Simpson? That's a hell of a list but I think I'd take Bradley or Scott.

For that matter, who would you pick to get their first major, first between Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, Billy Horschel, Jason Day,Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, and Bill Haas?

Has to be Day, right?

Good thing we have all of 2014 to find out.

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