Woods wins Match Play despite slow start
CARLSBAD, Calif., (MARCH 1 ) -- Tiger Woods won the $7 million Match Play Championship, passing Gene Sarazen and Tom Watson on the PGA Tour's all-time victory list.
The top-seeded Woods sprayed his drives all over during the morning round but used the lunch break on the driving range to iron out the kinks.
His salvation in the morning was his putting, and with his swing back in the afternoon came from behind to defeat Davis Love III, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final at La Costa.
"I was struggling with my swing this morning, but I putted beautifully and kept myself in the match," said Woods, who collected $1.2 million for his 40th victory in only 149 starts on the PGA Tour.
Woods, who claimed his eighth title in 14 official World Golf Championships events, was 1 down after 18 holes and would have been further behind had he not won the par-5 18th in the morning.
Love's cause wasn't helped by a heckler who yelled, "No Love," several times before Love had him ejected on the 23rd hole.
Love had one last chance to make a contest of it, only to miss a four-foot birdie putt at the 29th hole.
Sorenstam wins ANZ Ladies' Masters
GOLD COAST, Australia, March 1 (UPI) -- Annika Sorenstam won her third ANZ Ladies' Masters golf title in Australia, well ahead of England's Karen Stupples.
Sorenstam took the title with a 19-under par total after shooting consecutive 65s over the weekend. Stupples was second at 15-under, with Australian Kylie Pratt third at 11-under.
Sorenstam began the final round just one shot ahead of Stupples, but she had four birdies and an eagle in a sensational outward half of 31.
"This is the perfect way to start the year," said the 33-year-old Swede, who has been No. 1 in the women's game for the past three years. "I made a fast start today and this is a very sweet win."
Stupples has concentrated her career on the LPGA Tour in the United States but is intending to play more on the European circuit as she aims for Solheim Cup selection.
Defending champion Laura Davies closed with a 68 and tied for eighth at 7-under.
Hrbaty wins Marseille Open final
MARSEILLE, France, March 1 (UPI) -- After going without a tennis title for three years, Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty has quickly made up for lost time, winning the Marseille Open.
Hrbaty rallied past Swedish teenager Robin Soderling, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, Sunday in the final of the $753,000 Marseille Open to capture his third title in five events this season.
The 26-year-old had not won a title since 2001 before claiming consecutive tournaments in Adelaide and Auckland at the start of the year. He picked up his sixth career crown and took over the lead in titles for the season, moving past Lleyton Hewitt. Hrbaty also paces the circuit with 17 match wins.
Soderling, 19, was hoping to win his first career ATP tournament victory and become the youngest champion of this event. He lost his second final, but knocked off two seeds this week in Fernando Gonzalez and Arnaud Clement.
"I've been a bit unlucky today and I did not play my best tennis, but Dominik is playing great tennis and deserved to win," Soderling said. "He's won three titles in the first two months of the year, if he continues like that he's going to be in the top 10 soon."
Kuerten wins final in rainy Brazil Open
COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil, March 1 (UPI) -- Gustavo Kuerten completed a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Argentine Agustin Calleri Sunday to capture the $380,000 Brazil Open.
The third-seeded Brazilian was leading the final, 3-6, 6-2, 1-0, Saturday when play was suspended until Sunday because of rain.
A former world No. 1 and three-time French Open champion, Kuerten used the support of the home crowd to bounce back from a disappointing opening set. But persistent rain, which fell as the match began, eventually forced the suspension of play.
Kuerten, who earned $52,000, collected his first title of the year and 20th of his career. It was his 14th crown on clay, but first on the dirt since capturing five on the dirt in 2001. He won this event two years ago, when it was held on hard courts.
The victory improved Kuerten's season record to 14-4. He was runner-up at Vina del Mar, Chile two weeks ago.
The fourth-seeded Calleri was hoping to add this title to the one he won last year on clay at Acapulco. Instead, he lost to Kuerten for the fourth time in five meetings.
