NAPLES, Fla. — The biggest challenge facing Lydia Ko is how she can top a rookie season like this one.

The 17-year-old from New Zealand sat next to a pair of crystal trophies Sunday evening. At her feet was a glass box that was stuffed with cash to symbolize the $1 million bonus she picked up on an historic end to the LPGA Tour season.

She was an instant millionaire when she closed with a 4-under 68 to get into a three-way playoff in the CME Group Tour Championship. She already had finished high enough to clinch the inaugural “Race to CME Globe” and its $1 million bonus.

Then, she collected another trophy by winning the Tour Championship with a par on the fourth extra hole to pick up an extra $500,000. Only the tournament earnings count toward the money list, and it made Ko the first rookie to surpass $2 million in a year.

The most pressure she felt all week was Thursday night, when she had to give an acceptance speech as LPGA rookie of the year.

“It’s been an awesome week, and a week I’ll never forget,” Ko said.

As an amateur, her mother used to give her $10 for every shot she finished under par. Ko won twice on the LPGA Tour as an amateur, and she made her pro debut last year at the Tour Championship by earning $16,063.

So to leave town with $1.5 million in one day was a little difficult to digest.

“It’s huge money, you know?” Ko said. “Even $1,000 is huge money. For us, $100 is huge money. So it’s getting bigger. But the great things about my friends is most of them don’t play golf. When I’m hanging around with them, we don’t talk about golf or the hook I hit on 7 or whatever. So that’s what I really love. I feel like I can get off the course, get my mind free and just be that teenager.”

On the golf course, she looks like a world beater.

Ko already has five LPGA Tour victories, and she’s still not old enough to legally drink the champagne that players sprayed on her when she won. She heads back to New Zealand for a two-month offseason before figuring out what she can do next.

“It’s going to be tough,” she said. “I think I played pretty awesome this year. I’ve had 14 top 10s and three wins. It’s a year that I would have never thought I would have. It’s hard year to top. Just playing consistently is my goal for my whole career.”

She was consistent on Sunday, especially in the playoff held on the 425-yard 18th hole, which yielded only four birdies in the final round.

Ko left it to the others to blink first.

Julieta Granada of Paraguay, who closed with a 71, was the first to be eliminated when she three-putted from the collar of the green, missing a 5-foot par putt that spun in and out of the cup.

Carlota Ciganda of Spain twice had a chance to pick up her first LPGA Tour victory. She closed with a 70, a score that could have been one shot better if not for missing a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole in regulation that would have given her a one-shot lead.

On the third playoff hole, Ciganda had a 5-foot birdie putt for the win and missed it. On the fifth time playing the 18th hole – and fourth in the playoff – she pulled her approach left of the green and watched it bounce down the slope and into the hazard.

“Just missed one shot, and not the right way,” Ciganda said.

She took a penalty drop and chipped to 3 feet. Ko had two putts for the win, and her birdie putt stopped an inch from going in. No matter. The kid was a winner again, and richer than ever.

The top three players – Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and Ko – only had to win the tournament to assure themselves the $1 million bonus. Lewis never had much of a chance and tied for ninth. Park was four shots worse and tied for 24th.

Ko just went about her work, thinking more about birdies than cash.

“She’s a great player,” Lewis said. “She got that innocence about her that she doesn’t even realize what’s going on. She probably has no idea how the scenarios and points work out. Maybe it’s to her advantage.”

Lewis did not leave empty-handed.

She became the first American in 21 years to sweep the three most significant awards on the LPGA Tour – player of the year, the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average and the money title.

“The $1 million would have been nice,” Lewis said. “But those three, that’s what I came here for.”

MELBOURNE, Australia – Australian lefthander Nick Cullen shot a 3-under 69 Sunday to win the Australian Masters by one stroke over Adam Scott, ending Scott’s attempt for a third consecutive victory in the tournament.

Cullen, who had a four-round total of 9-under 279, saved par on the 18th after hitting his bunker shot to a foot.

“It would have been nice to have a little buffer coming down here (the 18th), but a couple of three putts gave that away,” Cullen said. “To get up and down like that and have a win it’s an amazing feeling.”

Scott, who trailed by four strokes after three rounds, shot 68 Sunday and finished tied for second with two other Australians.

Scott’s 60-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole curled out and he held the clubhouse lead for about an hour until Cullen finished his round at Metropolitan Golf Club.

“We had a great read on the final putt, and I couldn’t believe it didn’t go in,” Scott said. “After all the putts that didn’t drop this week, I really needed that one.”

An eagle at the par-5 fourth and back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 helped Cullen clinch the win.

James Nitties and Josh Younger were tied for second with Scott.

Ranked 539th, Cullen’s previous biggest win was the 2012 Indonesian Open on the OneAsia tour, while he won the Queensland Open in 2013.

He led on the opening day of the Australian Masters last year, but finished fourth behind Scott at Royal Melbourne.

Second-ranked Scott now heads to Sydney for an Australian Open showdown with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, the defending champion.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Henrik Stenson has successfully defended his DP World Tour Championship title at the European Tour’s season-ending event.

The Swede shot a final round 2-under 70 on Sunday to win by two strokes with an overall 16-under 272 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Three of Stenson’s teammates on Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team – top-ranked Rory McIlroy (68), Victor Dubuisson (68) and Justin Rose (69) – shared second on 14-under 274.

The victory means Stenson finishes second to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello (75) was leading with three holes to play but the Spaniard tumbled down the board with back-to-back double bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 to finish tied for ninth with an overall 277.

NAPLES, Fla. — Tiger Woods has hired a swing consultant as he prepares to return to competition.

Woods announced Saturday on Twitter that Dallas-based Chris Como, a specialist in biomechanics of the golf swing, will be working and consulting with him. Woods did not identify Como as his swing coach.

“Happy to have Chris Como consulting and working with me on my swing. I’m excited to be back competing,” Woods said.

He is to return Dec. 4-7 at his Hero World Challenge, an 18-man field of top 50 players at Isleworth.

Not long after the tweet, Como’s website was unavailable because it exceeded its bandwidth. He works at Gleneagles Country Club outside Dallas and was listed among the best young teachers by Golf Digest magazine last year.

The magazine said on its website that Como is completing a master’s degree in biomechanics at Texas Woman’s University. He is studying under Kwon Young-Hoo, an expert on how sports movements impact the body.

Woods said good friend Notah Begay introduced him to Como this summer.

“Subsequently, we had several good conservations about the golf swing,” Woods said in a statement. “I’ve worked with him about a month since I started practicing. Chris will consult and work with me during the year.”

Woods already has had three swing coaches and four swings during a career that already has brought him 14 majors among his 79 PGA Tour titles. He most recently worked with Sean Foley, whom he dismissed in August after three years and no majors. Woods last won a major in 2008 at the U.S. Open.

This is the first time in his career he failed to register a top-10 finish.

Woods missed most of the year with back issues. He had surgery on his back a week before the Masters, forcing him to sit out three months to recover. He last played in the PGA Championship, where he missed the cut, and then said he would take more time off to get stronger.

Como also works with Aaron Baddeley, Trevor Immelman and Jamie Lovemark.

NAPLES, Fla. — Julieta Granada kept in front of a growing pack of challengers Saturday with a 2-under 70 and a one-shot lead in the CME Globe Tour Championship, only one part of what was shaping up as a tense conclusion to the LPGA Tour season.

The race for $1 million was even tighter.

Granada’s long two-putt for par on the 18th hole at Tiburon Golf Club gave her a one-shot lead over Morgan Pressel and Carlota Ciganda of Spain, who both made big putts on the final hole. Pressel hit a 7-iron to 5 feet for birdie and a 70, while Ciganda rolled in an 8-foot par putt for a 71.

Sandra Gal of Germany (70) hit into the water for bogey on the 18th and was two shots behind.

None of the top four can win the Race to CME Globe and its $1 million bonus, the biggest payoff in women’s golf.

All that commotion is right behind them.

Stacy Lewis, who effectively wrapped up LPGA player of the year and the Vare Trophy when Inbee Park faltered, made only one mistake in her round of 70. It moved her into a tie for 10th, six shots out of the lead but enough to give her a slight edge in the points race for the $1 million.

Lydia Ko (68) and So Yeon Ryu (70) were tied for fifth, three shots behind. Both are very much in the running for the bonus, especially Ko, who only has to win the tournament. Also still in the mix was Michelle Wie, who survived an up-and-down day for a 72 and was only four shots behind.

All of it will be settled over 18 holes on Sunday, and there’s even a chance for a playoff to decide who gets the winner-take-all bonus.

“I still have a chance – I’m not out of it,” Wie said. “That’s all I can ask for. I’m excited for the opportunity tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens. I’m just going to play as hard as I can and see what I can do.”

Inbee Park, who is No. 2 in the Race to CME Globe, shot a 73 and was 11 shots behind.

Lewis hit every fairway and missed only two greens. She was poised to move closer to the leaders until her approach on the par-5 17th failed to the right and into a hazard, leading to a bogey on the easiest of the par 5s at Tiburon.

Even so, she scored well enough to be in the top 10, not far from the other three players vying for the $1 million.

“I don’t know exactly how it all works, but there are people on the leaderboard I’m definitely cheering for over others,” Lewis said, honest as ever. “I’ve been thinking about all these awards and the Race to the Globe for three, four weeks now. Unfortunately, that’s not going to go away overnight.”

Her only goal Sunday was to hit greens and try to make putts, move up the leaderboard and hold out hope for a big rally to win the tournament.

“That’s what I did today and it really seemed to help me stay focused on the shot at hand,” she said.

Ko, the 17-year-old rookie, made the biggest move. She is No. 3 in the standings, meaning a victory Sunday would guarantee the $1 million bonus (along with $500,000 for winning the tournament). She took on more than she intended with a 6-iron that flirted with trouble left of the 18th green. Instead, it took a hop to the right and settled 3 feet away for a birdie.

“I come to the press room or get asked by the media, and that’s when I go, `Oh, there’s is $1 million on the line.’ When I’m out there, I’m trying to make as many birdies as I can,” Ko said. “I think that’s actually keeping me a little distracted.”

Wie is No. 4 and Ryu is No. 5 in the standings, meaning they need to finish strong and have Ko and Lewis lose some ground to have any chance.

But it’s all right there for any four of them on Sunday.

Granada was the first instant millionaire in LPGA history when she won a winner-take-all format at the ADT Championship eight years ago, her only LPGA victory. At stake is a chance for her to go wire-to-wire for another big prize.

Pressel has gone six years without a win, and that’s all that matters to her. The Tour Championship is all she can win, and Pressel isn’t even up to speed on anything else.

“Someone is going to win $1 million, and it’s not going to be me,” Pressel said. “But there’s other things I can win.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Defending champion Henrik Stenson and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello opened up a three-shot lead after the third round of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship on Saturday.

Stenson posted four birdies in a 4-under 68 to join Cabrera-Bello who birdied four of his closing five holes in a 7-under 65. Both players have an overall 14-under 202 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

England’s Justin Rose shot a 68 for third place, one shot clear of top-ranked Rory McIlroy (70), Victor Dubuisson (67), Tyrrell Hatton (68) and Thorbjorn Olesen (69).

McIlroy had back-to-back double bogeys at the 12th and 13th while Olesen was left counting the cost of an 18th-hole double bogey.

If he wins, Stenson will finish the 2014 European Tour season as runner-up to McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

“To win would be very pleasing as I’ve had a solid year, but I haven’t got a trophy yet,” Stenson said. “There is still a lot of golf to play and Rafa, he’s had a 64 and a 65, so he seems to be on fire.”

The 30-year-old Cabrera-Bello, who had an opening round 73, is no stranger to winning in Dubai after capturing the Dubai Desert Classic title in 2012.

“The round was a little bit crazy, because I haven’t felt I’ve played perfect at all,” Cabrera-Bello said. “I had to work really, really hard, especially at the beginning but I managed to hang in there and end up shooting 3 under on the front nine when I could have easily shot 2 or 3 over.”

McIlroy remains quietly confident of a sixth victory this year despite the pair of double bogeys.

The four-time Major winner three-putted the par-four 12th hole and missed the green at the next. McIlroy had trouble with two wedge shots on the 13th and trails the leaders by four shots.

“It was just a bad swing firstly on 13 but it was annoying to follow up a double on 12 with another one on 13,” McIlroy said. “I was a little frustrated but it was nice to get a couple back on the last few holes, at least keep myself within touch going into tomorrow.”

MELBOURNE, Australia — Adam Scott moved in the right direction Saturday at the Australian Masters, shooting a 1-under 71 to pull to within four strokes of the lead as he attempts to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.

Scott got some help from gusty winds that affected the last few groups. He trailed by six when he finished, but an hour later, Paul Spargo, playing in the final group, was the leader after a 71 and a 54-hole total of 8-under 208.

That was one stroke better than second-round leader Michael Wright, who bogeyed four holes on the back nine for a 74 and after he and fellow Australian Spargo were told they were on the clock for slow play.

“I’m happy with the result considering the conditions, I made some good shots coming in,” said Spargo. “Who knows what we’ll get weather-wise tomorrow.”

The forecast for Sunday was for lighter winds from the south, just the opposite of the strong northerlies that buffeted Metropolitan Golf Course on Saturday.

Three Australians were tied for third, two strokes behind – 18-year-old amateur Lucas Herbert, who had the round of the day with a 65, Nick Cullen (66) and James Nitties (67).

“I was quite fortunate to get out before the weather really hit,” said Herbert, whose 7-under came in mostly calm morning conditions. “That wind was really tough on the last four holes.”

Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion, shot 71 and was in a group three shots behind and tied for sixth.

Scott, tied for eighth with seven others, shot 39 on the front nine after three bogeys and a birdie, but made a run on the back with four birdies in eight holes before making bogey on 18. Twice he needed two shots to get out of bunkers.

Still, Scott remained optimistic heading into Sunday.

“I hung in there, I felt I swung the club today better than before, and that’s something I need to keep going for tomorrow,” Scott said. “You never know, I might be within shouting distance.

“Anyone sitting in my position is going out with no pressure. Posting a number is a big thing in a golf tournament with some tough finishing holes here.”

Scott will go up against world No. 1 Rory McIlory at next week’s Australian Open in Sydney, where the Northern Irishman is the defending champion.

Last year at Royal Sydney, McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to relegate Scott to second and prevent the Australian from capturing all three of his country’s majors – the PGA, Masters and Open.

Canadian Riley Wheeldon shot an 81 on Saturday and dropped back into a tie for 62nd at +6.

Americans Zac Blair (69) and Boo Weekley (70) were at 2-under, six behind Spargo. Another American, Kyle Stanley, shot 73 and was another stroke back.

Murrieta, Cal. — Canada’s Ryan Yip, Wes Heffernan and Cory Renfrew all advanced to the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying with strong final rounds at Bear Creek Golf Club on Friday.

Calgary’s Yip made six birdies en route to carding a 4-under 68 and finishing in solo third at 5-under 283.

Heffernan, the 2000 Alberta Amateur Champion, finished two shots back of Yip in fifth at 3-under 285 (71-72-71-71). He carded a final round 1-under 71.

Renfrew, of Victoria, B.C., began the day on the cusp of advancing, but climbed nine spots as a result of his final round 3-under 69.  Renfrew went out on the front nine with a 2-over 38 including a double bogey on 3, but made five birdies on the back nine.

Also in the field in Murrieta, Cal., but failing to advance to next month’s Q School finale was Matt McQuillan (T23rd) of Kingston, Ont., as well as Vancouver natives Seann Harlingten (28th), Darren Wallace (T49th) and Eugene Wong (T55th).

Second stage qualifying also took place at two other venues this week.

At Hombre Golf Club in Panama City, Fla., Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont. failed to advance to next month’s final by a single stroke after bogeying his final hole of the tournament.  The Big Break Prince Edward Island winner finished tied for 19th at 7-over for the week.

Scott Stiles of Calgary shot an even par 71 in Friday’s final round and finished tied for 45th.

This week’s third qualifying site was Plantation Preserve Golf Club in Plantation, Fla. Unfortunately, no Canadians were able to advance from the field.

Toronto’s Lucas Kim in position to advance at +1, but struggled in the final round.  Kim made eight bogeys on the day and finished in a tie for 43rd at +6.

Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. finished the week a stroke behind Kim at +7 after carding final-round 75.

The final stage of Web.com Q School takes place December 11-16 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

NAPLES, Fla. — Michelle Wie suddenly is in a position to consider a million ways how a great year can get even better.

On a tough day that only rewarded the best shots, Wie holed out for eagle with a pitching wedge on her way to a 5-under 67 that moved her up high enough on the leaderboard Friday at the CME Group Tour Championship to get into position for a $1 million bonus.

Carlota Ciganda of Spain took advantage of a putting lesson from Spanish great Jose Maria Olazabal to make five birdies for a 67 that gave her a share of the lead with Julieta Granada of Paraguay, who scrambled for a 71. They were at 7-under 137 going into the weekend at the Tiburon Golf Club.

Morgan Pressel, who rallied on the back nine Thursday to overcome a rugged start, shot a 66 and was one shot out of the lead.

All of them would love to win the LPGA Tour season finale because it’s a big title with a $500,000 check for first place. None has a mathematical chance at the $1 million bonus for winning the points-based Race to CME Globe.

And that’s where Wie comes in.

Wie, who captured her first major this year at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Women’s Open, is No. 4 in the Race to CME Globe. Only the top three players – Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park and 17-year-old Lydia Ko – can win the $1 million bonus simply by winning the tournament.

Wie needs a little bit of help, only she did most of the heavy lifting.

Even though she made bogey on the par-5 opening hole that irritated her, the 25-year-old from Hawaii bounced back with her eagle on No. 7, birdies on the par 5s and a score that put her only two shots out of the lead.

“All I want is an opportunity, a chance,” Wie said. “I’m really proud of myself for giving myself that today. I just want to go out there tomorrow and put myself in a great position for Sunday. That’s all I want, and that’s all I’m asking for. Whatever happens, happens.”

She did get some help from the top three.

Lewis, who opened with a 69 and was only three shots out of the lead, struggled with distance control in the blustery conditions and had to chip in for birdie and make a tough par putt on the 18th to salvage a 74. He was six shots out of the lead.

Park couldn’t get a putt to drop. She also had a 74. Ko had another 71 and was five shots behind.

“Six back is not a horrible position,” Lewis said. “I don’t think anybody is running away with this thing. I think it’s going to end up being pretty bunched up at the end and probably a playoff on Sunday. I’m right where I need to be. I’m trying not to think about player of the year and all that stuff. It’s up there, but trying not to think about it.”

Lewis can sweep all the significant awards at this LPGA Tour finale provided she finishes ahead of Park, and so far she is three shots ahead. Not to be forgotten is that $1 million packaged in $100 in a glass case that they posed with on the eve of the tournament.

Along with prize money, the winner of the Race to CME Globe will receive the largest single-day payoff in the history of women’s golf.

The first step is to try to catch the leaders.

Ciganda was home in Spain last week when she called Olazabal and asked him for a lesson.

“We stay there like three hours on the putting green, just hitting putts,” Ciganda said. “He told me a few things and it seems like it’s working, so I’m pretty happy. I have to thank him. Then we played last Friday before coming here, so it was really nice to play. He’s so passionate about golf. It just his life.”

And how did that match turn out? Ciganda teamed with a Challenge Tour player in Europe, their best ball against Olazabal.

“We won on the last hole,” she said. “But it was tough.”

Pressel was 3 over through 10 holes in the opening round when she battled back for a 72. She was headed for another slow start Friday until knocking in a 15-foot par putt on the third hole, and then she was on her way to the best round of the day.

Granada spent most her time swapping birdies with bogeys, though she stayed atop the leaderboard.

Sarah Jane Smith (69) and Sandra Gal (71) joined Wie at 5-under 139, while So Yeon Ryu had another 70 and was three shots out of the lead. Ryu is at No. 5 in the Race to CME Globe and is on the fringe on contending for the big bonus.

The weekend is important for Wie to keep moving forward, and for Lewis, Park and Ko to start making up ground.

“You can make up a lot of ground quickly,” Granada said. “But your game has to be on. The toughness of the course will show it.”

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — It was a big day for Rod Spittle of St. Catharines, Ont., who earned full status on the Champions Tour for 2015 after finishing fifth at the final stage of Champions Tour Q-School.

The 1977 and 1978 Canadian Amateur Champion carded a 2-under 70 at Panther Lake Golf Club and finished the week at -5.

Spittle turned professional at the age of 50 in 2004 and earned a spot on the Champions Tour during the following season.  His lone win as a professional came in a sudden-death playoff at the AT&T Championship against Jeff Sluman in 2010.

Fellow Canadians Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C. and Rick Gibson of Calgary both shot 68s in the final round, but failed to earn fully exempt status in 2015 by a very narrow margin.

Rutledge (-4) finished in a tie for sixth place, just one stroke back of Spittle, while Gibson (-2) climbed thirteen spots to finish in a tie for 10^th with Argentina’s Cesar Monasterio.

For finishing between 6-13, both players earned conditional exempt status on the Champions Tour in 2015.

Unable to earn exempt status this year were Ken Tarling (+10) of Stouffville, Ont. and Calgary’s Darryl James (+16).