CHONBURI, Thailand – Florida’s Jessica Korda set a tournament record to win the LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course on Sunday.

Korda held off Lexi Thompson and local hope Moriya Jutanugarn for a four-stroke win after a final-round 67 for an overall total of 25 under 263, smashing the previous mark of 22 under set by Amy Yang of South Korea in 2017.

“It’s an incredible thing to be able to win again. I haven’t won in two years. And who knows? It’s so hard out here. These girls are so good. I mean, look at the scoreboard. I had to shoot 25 under just to win,” said Korda after claiming her fifth LPGA win.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a fourth-round 67 to finish the tournament 16 under and tied for seventh. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (71) was 3 over.

It was Korda’s first trophy since winning in Malaysia in 2015.

Ranked No. 26, Korda had surgery on an overbite in December and was playing in her first tournament since November.

“I just came with no expectations after surgery. It’s really hard for me to move. All this stuff is just still really hard, but I’m really, really happy that I chose to come back in this event exactly where I started my rookie year in 2011. I don’t think I could have asked for a better win,” she said.

Thompson, who won here in 2016, turned in a bogey free round that included eight birdies to sign off with a 64 for a 21 under 267.

“I had to just fire at everything today and make a lot of birdies because Jessica has been playing amazing, along with a lot of other people. So that’s what I did. I just went after it,” said No. 4-ranked Thompson.

Moriya, the 2013 Rookie of the Year, almost caught up with Korda after nine holes when she closed to within two shots, but her challenge faded and she failed to become the first Thai winner of the tournament. Moriya finished with a final-round 67 for an overall 21 under 267.

“I wasn’t sad at all. It was fun playing with Jessica. It’s been a fun week. I already tried my best. Whatever happened this week is cool,” said Moriya, who has yet to win on the LPGA tour.

CHONBURI, Thailand – Jessica Korda kept an eye on her younger sister while firing a 4-under 68 in the third round of the LPGA Thailand on Saturday to lead Moriya Jutanugarn by four strokes.

A day after a course-record 62 at Siam Country Club, Korda fought back from a bogey on the front nine with five birdies to finish on 20-under 196 overall. The American was on the 18th hole when concerns over lightning suspended play for 30 minutes before play resumed.

“(I) was playing really well at the end of the season, but I haven’t been in this (leading) position. Being back, it just takes you a little bit of time,” said the 24-year-old Korda, who won her fifth and last title at the LPGA Malaysia in 2015.

Her 19-year-old sister Nelly Korda (65) is eight shots off the lead.

“I’m definitely a leaderboard watcher. I love seeing her name up there,” said Jessica Korda, who was playing her first tournament since jaw surgery.

Propelled by eight birdies and an eagle on the par-4 No. 14, with three bogeys, Jutanugarn signed off with a 65 and a total of 16-under 200.

“Everybody has the chance to win as all the top players are here this week,” said Jutanugarn, who has a chance to become the first Thai winner in her home tournament.

Australian Minjee Lee (68) is third on 15-under 201, followed by former top-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn (65) on 202. Lexi Thompson (69), the 2016 champion, is a stroke further back. Michelle Wie (69) is tied for sixth.

Brooke Henderson (70) of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for ninth at 11 under while Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (72) was 4 over.

Brittany Lincicome was in second place after the second round, four shots behind Jessica Korda, but the American dropped down the board and is tied for ninth after a 73.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Even with a tee shot into the water for another double bogey, Tiger Woods could see the big picture in the Honda Classic.

He was four shots out of the lead going into the weekend.

Luke List delivered a round not many others found possible in such difficult conditions Friday, a 4-under 66 that gave him a share of the lead with Jamie Lovemark (69). They were at 3-under 137, the highest score to lead at the halfway point of the Honda Classic since it moved to PGA National in 2007.

So bunched were the scores that Woods was four shots out of the lead and four shots from last place among the 76 players who made the cut at 5-over 145. More importantly, he only had 13 players in front of him.

“This is a difficult golf course right now,” Woods said. “Making pars is a good thing. I’ve done that, and I’m right there with a chance.”

And he has plenty of company.

Tommy Fleetwood, who won the Race to Dubai on the European Tour last year, scratched out a 68 and was one shot out of the lead along with Webb Simpson (72), Russell Henley (70) and Rory Sabbatini (69).

Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger each shot 72 and were in a large group at 139. They were among only 10 players remaining under par.

Fleetwood laughed when asked the last time he was at 2 under after 36 holes and only one shot out of the lead.

“Maybe some junior event,” he said. “It’s good, though. These are the toughest test in golf. Generally, one of the best players prevail at the end of weeks like this. Weeks like this challenge you to the ultimate level. Whether you shoot two 80s or you lead after two rounds, you can see what you need to do and see where your game is. Because this is as hard as it’s ever going to get for you.”

The difficulty was primarily from the wind, which blew just as hard in the morning when List shot his 66 as it did in the afternoon. More aggravating to the players are the greens, which are old and bare, firm and crusty. It’s a recipe for not making many putts.

Defending champion Rickie Fowler had six bogeys on his front nine and shot 77 to miss the cut.

“It’s unfortunate that the greens have changed this much in a year,” Fowler said. “They typically get slick and quick on the weekend because they dry out, but at least there’s some sort of surface. But like I said, everyone’s playing the same greens.”

It looked as though List was playing a different course when he went out with a bogey-free 32 on the back nine, added a pair of birdies on the front nine and then dropped his only shot when he caught an awkward lie in the bunker on the par-3 seventh.

“It’s very relentless,” List said. “There’s not really too many easy holes, but if you hit fairways and go from there, you can make a few birdies out there.”

Canadians Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners are 2 over while Ben Silverman missed the cut.

List and Lovemark, both Californians, have never won on the PGA Tour. This is the third time List has had at least a share of the 36- hole lead, most recently in South Korea at the CJ Cup, where he shot 76-72 on the weekend.

“It’s kind of irrelevant because there’s going to be 30 guys within a couple shots of the lead,” List said. “It’s going to be that type of week.”

He was exaggerating – there were 11 players within three shots of the lead.

And there was another guy four shots behind.

Miss anything from Round 2?

We've got you covered ? pic.twitter.com/qVlfjtMsWl

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 24, 2018

Woods brought big energy to a Friday afternoon that already was hopping before he overcame a sluggish start and holed a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 9 to make the turn at 1 under for his round, and leaving him two shots out of the lead. Everyone knew it just from listening to the roars.

Woods had his chances, twice missing birdie putts from inside 10 feet at Nos. 10 and 12, sandwiched around a 12-foot par save. His round appeared to come undone when he found the water on the 15th and made double bogey for the second straight day.

Then, he hit out of a fairway bunker, over the water and onto the green at the dangerous 16th hole and faced a 65-foot putt. He misread the speed and the line, so badly that it was similar to a car driving from Chicago to Denver and winding up in Phoenix. A bogey dropped him to 2 over.

The big moment was the 17th hole, 184 waters into the wind and over water. That’s where Rory McIlroy made triple bogey earlier in the day that ruined his otherwise solid round of 72, leaving him seven behind. Making it even tougher for Woods is the Brandt Snedeker hit 5-iron before him to about 6 feet. Woods got to the tee and the wind died, meaning 5-iron was too much and 6-iron wouldn’t clear the water.

He went with the 5-iron.

“I started that thing pretty far left and hit a pretty big cut in there because I had just too much stick,” Wood said.

It landed 12 feet below the hole for a birdie putt.

Thomas made 17 pars and a double bogey when he three-putted from 6 feet on No. 16. He felt the same way as Woods.

“I’m in a good spot – really good spot – going into this week,” Thomas said.

CHONBURI, Thailand – Jessica Korda shot a course-record 62 at the LPGA Thailand on Friday to lead by four strokes after the second round.

Playing her first tournament since having jaw surgery, the American fired eight birdies and finished with an eagle to move to 16 under par at the halfway point, a 36-hole record for the event.

“That was a pretty good round, pretty special,” she said. “Just had a lot of fun doing it.”

Korda is the daughter of former tennis player Petr Korda. She leads from another American, Brittany Lincicome, who carded a 65 to go 12 under at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course.

Minjee Lee of Australia is third and a shot behind Linicome on 11 under after a 67. Lexi Thompson of the United States, the 2016 champion, is fourth and another shot behind Lee.

Brooke Henderson (68) of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for fifth at 9 under after posting six birdies against two bogeys in Friday’s second round. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (73) was well back at 4 over.

.@BrookeHenderson sits tied for 5th after the 2nd round of @hondalpgath!

Watch highlights from her day: pic.twitter.com/nAZQiWyt7W

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 23, 2018

Korda is making her season debut in Thailand after the surgery and is playing with 27 screws holding her jaw in place.

She seized the outright lead with a birdie on No. 15, the third of four straight birdies she made on the back nine. Her eagle on the last meant she finished with a 29 on the back nine, putting her in prime position for a first tour win since 2015.

“The best part is I have had no headache for 11 weeks. So that’s the biggest win for me,” she said. “Honestly I was just trying to get on the green, get myself a chance. I birdied four in a row and holed a long one (on 18). I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was pretty cool.”

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Tiger Woods had what he called “easily” his best round hitting the ball, and he didn’t even break par at the Honda Classic.

Alex Noren and Webb Simpson shared the lead at 4-under 66 in steady wind on a penal PGA National golf course, and felt as though they had to work hard for it. Both dropped only one shot Thursday, which might have been as great an accomplishment as any of their birdies.

“When you stand on certain tee boxes or certain approach shots, you remember that, ‘Man, this is one of the hardest courses we play all year, including majors,”’ said Simpson, who is playing the Honda Classic for the first time in seven years.

Only 20 players broke par, and just as many were at 76 or worse.

Woods had only one big blunder – a double bogey on the par-5 third hole when he missed the green and missed a 3-foot putt – in an otherwise stress-free round. He had one other bogey against three birdies, and was rarely out of position. Even one of his two wild drives, when his ball landed behind two carts that were selling frozen lemonade and soft pretzels, he still had a good angle to the green.

“It was very positive today,” Woods said. “It was a tough day out there for all of us, and even par is a good score.”

It was plenty tough for Adam Scott, who again stumbled his way through the closing stretch of holes that feature water, water and more water. Scott went into the water on the par-3 15th and made double bogey, and then hit into the water on the par-3 17th and made triple bogey. He shot 73.

Rory McIlroy was at even par deep into the back nine when he figured his last chance at birdie would be the par-5 18th. Once he got there, he figured his best chance at birdie was to hit 3-wood on or near the green. Instead, he came up a yard short and into the water, made double bogey and shot 72.

Noren, who lost in a playoff at Torrey Pines last month, shot 31 on the front nine and finished with a 6-foot birdie on the ninth hole into a strong wind for his 66.

The Swede is a nine-time winner on the European Tour who is No. 16 in the world, though he has yet to make a connection among American golf fans – outside of Stillwater, Oklahoma, from his college days at Oklahoma State – from not having fared well at big events. Noren spends time in South Florida during the winter, so he’s getting used to this variety of putting surfaces.

“I came over here to try to play some more American-style courses, get firmer greens, more rough, and to improve my driving and improve my long game,” Noren said. “So it’s been great.”

PGA champion Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Morgan Hoffmann – who all live up the road in Jupiter – opened with a 67. There’s not much of an advantage because hardly anyone plays PGA National the other 51 weeks of the year. It’s a resort that gets plenty of traffic, and conditions aren’t quite the same.

Louis Oosthuizen, the South African who now lives primarily in West Palm Beach, also came out to PGA National a few weeks ago to get a feel for the course. He was just like everyone else that day – carts on paths only. Not everyone can hole a bunker shot on the final hole at No. 9 for a 67.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., shot his 67 with a bogey from a bunker on No. 9. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is even while Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., shot an 8-over 78.

Woods, in his third PGA Tour event since returning from a fourth back surgery, appears to be making progress.

“One bad hole,” he said. “That’s the way it goes.”

Tiger Woods​.
Justin Thomas.
Daniel Berger.
Rory McIlroy​.
Adam Scott.
Rickie Fowler​.
Webb Simpson.
Louis Oosthuizen.

Round 1 highlights from @TheHondaClassic​! pic.twitter.com/LrP7qrq2bV

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2018

It came on the easiest hole on the course. Woods drove into a fairway bunker on the par-5 third, laid up and put his third shot in a bunker. He barely got it out to the collar, used the edge of his sand wedge to putt it down toward the hole and missed the 3-foot par putt.

He answered with a birdie and made pars the rest of the way.

“I’m trying to get better, more efficient at what I’m doing,” Woods said. “And also I’m actually doing it under the gun, under the pressure of having to hit golf shots, and this golf course is not forgiving whatsoever. I was very happy with the way I hit it today.”

Woods played with Patton Kizzire, who already has won twice on the PGA Tour season this year. Kizzire had never met Woods until Thursday, and he yanked his opening tee shot into a palmetto bush. No one could find it, so he had to return to the tee to play his third shot. Kizzire covered the 505 yards in three shots, an outstanding bogey considering the two-shot penalty.

Later, he laughed about the moment.

“I was so nervous,” Kizzire said. “I said to Tiger, ‘Why did you have to make me so nervous?”’

CHONBURI, Thailand – Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is one shot back after carding seven birdies, five of which came on her first eight holes. The 20-year-old sits at 5 under for the tournament, in great position a week after missing the cut for just the 5th time in her career.

Henderson is set to give chase to the leaders with an 11:38 a.m. tee time in Friday’s second round.

“Yeah, you know, it was a really great start. Felt good, especially coming out of last week,” said Henderson. “I was happy to get a lot of birdies right out of the gate and feel comfortable again—unfortunately gave two back, but I was able to fight pretty hard on the back nine and finish at 5-under.”

A few months ago, Henderson was shovelling ice back home in Smiths Falls—she hasn’t shown any signs of trouble adjusting to the extreme heat in Thailand.

“Yeah, spending a lot time in Florida I’ve been able to learn all about grain and how to read putts like that. Coming from Canada I didn’t really know much about that, but last few years I’ve definitely learned a lot. This heat is pretty similar to Florida. Actually quite a bit hotter.”

After working out some kinks in Australia, @BrookeHenderson shoots a first round of 67 at #HondaLPGAThailand

Watch: pic.twitter.com/J9PuJxMGtG

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 22, 2018

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp opened with a 3-over 75.

Three-time tour winner Minjee Lee of Australia finished with a superb eagle putt to be among the four leaders after day one of the LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club on Thursday.

Lee sank a 45-foot putt on the 18th hole to card a 6-under-par 66 for a shot lead with 2016 champion Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, and local hope Moriya Jutanugarn.

“I just hit the collar. I didn’t know if I was going to have enough. Such a big break there. I’m glad it caught the hole,” Lee said.

“It’s a second-shot golf course. Your approaches are really important, and obviously being in the right spots with the undulation. And if you have a hot putter that’s going to help.”

Lee won the Vic Open near Melbourne this month and opened her 2018 U.S. LPGA Tour account last week at the Women’s Australian Open, finishing fifth.

Thompson, who won this event in 2016 by six shots with a 20-under total and tied for fourth last year, started her latest round in style with an eagle followed by a birdie only to bogey the third hole. She shot four more birdies.

“It definitely helps to get that kind of start, but I was just trying to keep that momentum and not get ahead of myself,” Thompson said.

Her compatriot Korda had a rollercoaster round which featured eagles on the first and 17th holes, five birdies, a double bogey on the sixth, and two bogeys.

Moriya was the only player among the four to end the day without a bogey.

“I had a good start today, it was better than I expected,” said Moriya, who was seventh here last year.

She’s trying to become the first Thai winner of the tournament.

Two-time champion Amy Yang and world No. 2 Sung Hyun Park were among six players at 5 under.

With 7 birdies in her first round of @hondalpgath, @BrookeHenderson sits one shot off the lead!

Watch highlights: pic.twitter.com/GdmcwBYbha

— LPGA (@LPGA) February 22, 2018

COBRA Golf today introduced its KING Forged TEC Black irons with softer feel, improved power and a new, dark finish, now available in a traditional variable or ONE length set make-up. Utilizing a dynamic combination of cutting-edge face, finish and feel technologies, the KING Forged TEC Black irons provide golfers with the ideal balance of form, function, distance and feel.

Like all 2018 COBRA KING equipment introductions, the KING Forged TEC Black will feature the innovative COBRA CONNECT™ Powered by Arccos System providing Tour level analytics that help players gain insight into their game so they can make smarter, data-driven decisions and improve faster.  Electronically embedded sensors in the grip automatically record the distance and accuracy of every shot so golfers can track their improvements round-to-round. The fully connected set works in conjunction with the award-winning Arccos 360 smartphone application, which provides advanced rangefinder GPS distances for more than 40,000 courses.

Consumers who purchase a standard 7-piece set of KING Forged TEC Black irons in any configuration (Variable and ONE Length) will also receive additional Arccos 360 screw-in sensors to round out their 14-club set, ensuring that consumers have a fully connected experience.

“Better players are going to love the combination of soft feel, tour-level precision and maximum playability that the KING Forged TEC Black irons provide,” said Tom Olsavsky, Vice President of R&D for COBRA Golf.  “With some incredible new innovations, these irons will allow golfers to get dialed-in for more greens-in-regulation and better scoring, while maintaining their sleek look round-after-round.”

Both the KING Forged TEC Black and KING Forged TEC Black ONE Length irons feature an all-new Forged 4140 Stainless Steel face that is thinner and stronger to provide improved deflection and increased ball speed across the face.  In addition, the all new Technology Enhanced Cavity (TEC) utilizes a 100% carbon fiber medallion that damps vibrations to provide a softer, yet more solid feel during impact.  The handsome new Dimonized Black Metal (DBM) Matte Finish boasts the industry’s most durable satin black finish ever, reducing glare and providing extreme wear resistance while maintaining the look and feel of a classic forged iron.

Ensuring maximum playability, the KING Forged TEC Black irons utilize high-density Tungsten weights that are strategically placed on the heel and toe of the clubhead to lower and center CG for improved forgiveness and precision.

The KING Forged TEC Black ONE Length irons offer an added dimension of consistency, as COBRA engineers have manipulated the design of each iron to match the weight and length of a 7-iron, allowing for one simple, repeatable swing throughout the set. This is primarily achieved through Progressive Tungsten sole weights in the mid and long irons to deliver matching 7-iron head weights for each iron in the set.  In addition, lie angles have been adjusted to optimize ball flight in a ONE Length set configuration.  Long irons have a more upright lie angle, while the short irons and wedges have a slightly flatter lie angle delivering more consistent trajectory and ball flights.

Finally, the KING Forged TEC Black ONE Length irons feature a true after-market True Temper AMT Tour White steel shaft, which has been powder coated black to match the finish of the matte black iron head. Progressive weighting in the shafts (shaft weights increase in 3g increments thrhoughout the set), with lighter shaft weights in the long irons promote higher launch and more speed, while the heavier shaft weights in the short irons and wedges promote more accuracy and control.

Both the new KING Forged TEC Black variable length irons and KING Forged TEC Black ONE Length irons are available through stock in a 7-piece (5-GW) set in both right and left-hand versions. The steel True Temper AMT Tour White shaft features a black powder coating and is offered in both regular (R300) and stiff (S300) flexes.  A graphite offering in the UST Recoil 760 ES SmacWrap (in lite flex) and a 780 ES SmacWrap in regular and stiff flex is available through custom only.  Both sets of irons come standard with Lamkin ACE Crossline COBRA CONNECT grips, featured in a Black colorway for the variable length sets and a Blue/Red colorway for the ONE Length sets, and will be available at retail beginning April 6, 2018.

For more information on the entire KING family of products, visit cobragolf.com.

USGA and The R&A Release Key Features
Golf Canada to adopt all features of the proposed new World Handicap System

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST ANDREWS, Scotland: The R&A and the USGA announce key features of the proposed new World Handicap System (WHS), designed to provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability globally.

The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by the USGA and The R&A and developed following an extensive review of systems administered by six existing handicapping authorities – Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

The new system will feature the following:

• Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability.
• A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with some discretion available for handicapping authorities or National Associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction.
• A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA Course and Slope Rating System, already successfully used in more than 80 countries.
• An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of previous demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control.
• A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day.
• Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation.
• A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only).
• A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game.

Quantitative research was conducted in 15 countries around the world, through which 76 percent of the 52,000 respondents voiced their support for a World Handicap System, 22 percent were willing to consider its benefits, and only 2% were opposed. This was followed by a series of focus groups, in which more than 300 golf administrators and golfers from different regions around the world offered extensive feedback on the features of the proposed new system.

This feedback has helped shape the WHS, which has been developed by the USGA and The R&A with support from each handicapping authority as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada.

Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, commented, “For some time, we’ve heard golfers say ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,” or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap.’ We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game. We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernizing Golf’s Rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are working with our partners and National Associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.

“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers. Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.”

Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada Chief Executive Officer added, “We are proud to have worked collaboratively with our partners at the R&A, USGA and other golf federations throughout the research process and development of a World Handicap System. We are fully committed to adopting the system and believe it will have a meaningful impact on the Canadian golf experience.”

The tenets of the new system focus on three main objectives: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their handicap to any course globally and compete on a fair and equitable basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

Given worldwide alignment towards a single system, all parties will now embark on a two-year transition period targeting implementation in 2020. When adopted, the World Handicap System will be governed by the USGA and The R&A and administered locally by the six existing authorities and National Associations around the world, with safeguards included to ensure consistency as well as adaptability to differing golf cultures.

The six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

The announcement is the latest step in a multi-year collaboration between The R&A and the USGA, handicap authorities and national and regional golf associations around the world to introduce one set of Rules for handicapping, aimed to support modernizing, growing and supporting accessibility of the sport.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and USGA’s efforts to implement a World Handicap System.

To provide feedback on the new World Handicap System, visit www.usga.org or www.RandA.org.

Learn more about the World Handicap System here.

LOS ANGELES – Bubba Watson ended two years without winning with his third victory at Riviera.

Watson seized control Sunday with two par putts as everyone around him was dropping shots, then pulling ahead by holing a bunker shot on the par-3 14th hole. He closed with a 2-under 69 for a two-shot victory in the Genesis Open over Kevin Na and Tony Finau, and more tears on the 18th green.

It was his first victory since he won at Riviera two years ago, rising to No. 4 in the world.

Watson showed up this year at No. 117, coming off a year filled with so many doubts that he says he discussed retirement with his wife on a dozen occasions. If anything, the only talk of retirement should be whether settle down off Sunset Boulevard.

He joined Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum as three-time winners at Riviera. Hogan’s victories include a U.S. Open.

Na hit a wedge close to perfection from the worst angle on the reachable par-4 10th hole for a birdie and two-putted for birdie on the 11th to briefly take the lead. He fell back with consecutive bogeys from the trees and shot 69. Finau lurked all day. His last chance was an eagle putt on the 17th that stopped inches short of the hole.

Patrick Cantlay had a one-shot lead going to the back nine until he ran into tree trouble on the 12th and 13th holes. The UCLA alum could do no better than pars the rest of the way for a 71 to tie for fourth with Scott Stallings (68).

Phil Mickelson also was in the hunt. He was within one shot of the lead when he hit a 4-iron from a deep bunker on the 15th hole to just right of the green. But he went after birdie and watched the ball roll 20 feet down the hill, leading to bogey. Mickelson shot 68 and tied for sixth.

Coming off good weeks at Phoenix and Pebble Beach, Mickelson has three straight top 10s for the first time since 2009.

Adam Hadwin was the top Canadian. The Abbotsford, B.C., native shot his second straight 66 to finish tied with Mickelson at 8 under. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford finished even while Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., was 2 over.

Watson, meanwhile, wrapped up another fun-filled week in L.A. on and off the golf course, which included an appearance in the NBA All-Star celebrity game, where he shot an air ball from just inside the top of the key and was rejected by Tracy McGrady driving – jogging, really – along the baseline toward the basket.

Far more memorable was getting his 10th career PGA Tour victory.

“My goal has always been to get 10 wins. So many emotions going through my head right now,” Watson said, choking back tears. “You never know if you’re going to play good again. You never know if you’re going to lift the trophy.”

Watson once jokingly said he would retire if he reached 10 tour victories, though this should only motivate him more, especially with the Masters closing in. Watson already had two green jackets.

He finished at 12-under 272 and moved to No. 41 in the world, which makes him eligible for the World Golf Championship in Mexico City in two weeks.

Watson had a one-shot lead going into the final round, though this was up for grabs from the start. A week of sun made Riviera firmer than usual and penalized even the slightest mistakes, especially starting on the 12th hole when the course turns back toward the west and into the wind.

Watson hit a delicate chip from short of the 12th green to 8 feet and made the par putt on its last turn. Then, he came up short to a tough pin on the 13th, chipped to 8 feet and made it again to take a one-shot lead.

His big moment came on the 14th. Watson hit too big of a fade toward the left pin, and it came up short and into the bunker. He blasted out and watched it bang into the pin and disappear, and he pointed at caddie Ted Scott and said, “You called it.”

From there, he didn’t make any mistakes with regulation pars on the next two holes, two putts from 60 feet for birdie on the 17th and a safe par on the 18th.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson, starting the final round four shots behind after a 64 on Saturday, made a double bogey on No. 5 that derailed him. Johnson made a triple bogey on that hole in the opening round.

ADELAIDE, Australia – South Korea’s Jin Young Ko shot a 3-under par 69 Sunday to clinch a 3-shot, start-to-finish win the Women’s Australian Open.

Playing in her first tournament as a full LPGA member, Ko shot 65, 69, 71, 69 to lead after all four rounds and to finish with a total of 274, 14-under par at the Kooyonga Golf Club. She is the first player to win her first tournament as an LPGA member in the tour’s 67-year history.

Ko started the day four shots clear of 21-year-old Hannah Green, who was bidding to become the first Australian to win her national crown since Karrie Webb won the last of her five titles in 2014.

Green played solidly in the final group with Ko, shooting 69 and missing a birdie on the 18th which cost her a share of second place.

The stiffest challenge Sunday came from Ko’s compatriot Hyejin Choi who closed within a shot at the turn, carding four birdies on her first nine holes. Ko began with birdies at the first and second holes, then stumbled with bogeys on the par-3 third and seventh holes.

But just as her lead came under threat, she found another gear, birdying the ninth hole to regain a two-shot lead. She then pulled away with birdies at the 13th and 17th in what seemed a nerveless finish, showing the experience gained as a 10-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour.

She ended with a regulation par on the 18th to claim her second LPGA title after previously winning the co-sanctioned KEB-Hana Bank Championship.

Ko said she felt “lots” of nerves over the final round. Asked her reaction when she holed out on 18, she said “relief.”

“I thought I could do it but I felt I had to play my game and enjoy the game,” Ko said. “My goal this week was firstly to make the cut and second to enjoy the game.

“But I won this week so I don’t know what that might mean. My goal is Rookie of the Year.” Asked by a reporter whether Player of the Year was a realistic option, Ko replied: “No, not yet.”

Ko started the tournament ranked 20 but could be close to the top-10 by the start of the next LPGA tour stop in Thailand next weekend.

Choi was relentless in pursuit, the only player other than Ko to beat par in all four rounds. She shot 69, 71, 70, 67 on the par-72 layout, finishing at 277, 11 under par.

Green, in her rookie season, had rounds of 69, 74, 66, 69 to finish third at 10-under, one shot ahead of compatriot Katherine Kirk, who finished with a 7-under 65, the day’s best round.

“I started off really well,” Green said. “My goal was to get into every major and I know that’s quite hard being a rookie this year. So hopefully I’ve made enough money and keep making money to ensure I’m definitely in.”

Canada’s Brooke Henderson missed the cut for just the 5th time since the start of the 2015 season.