Westwood ahead by two strokes at Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Lee Westwood had his second 6-under-par 66 of the tournament Saturday and has a 2-stroke lead after three rounds of the European PGA's Dubai World Championship.
Westwood posted a bogey-free round Saturday and is at 15-under 201. Ross McGowan matched Westwood's 66 to keep within sight of the lead at 13-under. Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy each shot 3-under 69 in the third round and are tied with Noren Alexander, who had a 67, for third place at 10-under.
The tournament championship, to be decided Sunday, is worth $1.2 million to the winner but the golfer who leads the European Tour's money list also receives a bonus of $1.5 million. Westwood and McIlroy are battling for that check.
McIlroy was 6-under Saturday going to No. 16 but he hit a shot to the edge of a water hazard and took a bogey 5 there. He followed that with a 3-putt bogey at 17 and found the water again at 18 and ended with a third consecutive bogey.
Westwood was 1-under after eight holes Saturday before running off three consecutive birdies. He added a birdie at No. 14 and capped the day with a birdie at the 18th hole.
McGowan has gone 46 holes without a bogey to stay in contention.
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Johnson one of many stories at Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Jimmie Johnson's drive to a fourth straight Sprint Cup points title will be one of numerous story lines at Sunday's Ford 400 auto race in Homestead, Fla.
Johnson, Friday's pole winner, needs only to finish at least 25th to win an unprecedented fourth straight points title.
"I'm glad that we have this late-season push each year, especially with the (Race for the Chase, the season-ending battle for the points title) in play," Johnson said this week on his Web site.
Also, Matt Kenseth drives for DeWalt Power Tools for the last time; Jamie McMurray does the same for Roush Fenway Racing; 50-year-old Mark Martin becomes the oldest driver to finish in the Top 10; Michael Waltrip ends his last full-time season; and Rick Hendrick, for whom Johnson drives, will join Petty Enterprises with his ninth ownership championship when Johnson starts the race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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Tebow leads Florida rout
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Tim Tebow accounted for three touchdowns Saturday, guiding top-ranked Florida to a 62-3 non-SEC rout of Florida International.
The former Heisman Trophy winner ran for 102 yards, scoring on a 55-yard, first-quarter run. He also completed 17-of-25 passes for 215 yards with a 27-yard, second-quarter scoring pass to Chris Rainey and an 18-yard touchdown to Riley Cooper in the third.
Backup quarterback John Brantley tossed three touchdown passes.
Rainey had 61 yards receiving and 30 rushing, and Brandon Spikes scored on a 42-yard, first-quarter interception return for the unbeaten Gators (11-0), who face arch-rival Florida State next Saturday and are 11-0 for the second time in school history.
They face Alabama in the SEC title game and, with 21 straight victories, have the nation's longest winning streak.
Paul McCall threw for 134 yards with an interception, and Dustin Rivest kicked a field goal for the Golden Panthers (3-8), who split their final four games.
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Ohio State clinches Rose Bowl bid
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Cameron Heyward's end zone fumble recovery Saturday started No. 8 Ohio State on its way to a 21-10 win over Michigan.
The victory was Ohio State's sixth straight in the Big Ten Conference series.
The touchdown
on a fumble by quarterback Tate Forcier came before the contest was 5 minutes old and was one of five Michigan turnovers.
Brandon Saine rushed for 84 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown.
Daniel Herron gained 96 yards on 19 carries and caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Terrelle Pryor, who threw for only 67 yards, but rushed for 74 yards on 19 carries for the Rose Bowl-bound Buckeyes (10-2, 7-1), who held only a 320-309 yardage advantage.
Forcier threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Smith, but also threw four interceptions, and Jason Olesnavage kicked a field goal for the Wolverines (5-7, 1-7), who endured their second straight losing season, with seven losses for the first time in school history.
