U.S. wins the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne

The Americans returned Down Under and wound up on top in the Presidents Cup at Melbourne, Australia. Jim Furyk became the fourth player to win all five of his matches, and the bottom half of the lineup was strong enough to give the Americans their fourth straight win in this lopsided series.

Tiger Woods won the clinching point Sunday for the second straight time. He played well all week without always getting rewarded with a point, but easily handled Aaron Baddeley, losing only one hole in a 4-and-3 victory.

By then, it already was clear which team would be hoisting the gold cup — again. The International team’s only win came 13 years ago at Royal Melbourne. The Americans made sure there was no repeat, and lead the series 7-1-1.

Hee Young Park birdied three of the final four holes for a three-under-par 69 and a share of the third-round lead with Sandra Gal in the LPGA Tour’s season-ending Titleholders at Orlando, Fla.

Gal shot a 71 in tricky wind conditions and matched Park at 7 seven under at Grand Cypress Resort.

Suzann Pettersen was a stroke back after a 68, and Paula Creamer (71) was at five under.

Matt Bettencourt shot a three-under 69 at Pebble Beach for a share of the lead with Kyle Thompson after the third round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational. Bettencourt and Thompson were at 11-under 205.

Thompson had 71 at Spyglass. Hunter Haas was a stroke back after a 65 at Del Monte.

ETC.

Weather probably not a factor in crash

Federal investigators said weather probably was not a factor in the plane crash that killed two Oklahoma State women’s basketball coaches this week.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jason Aguilar said the skies were clear and the winds were calm Thursday when a plane carrying Coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna crashed in central Arkansas.

Aguilar said investigators are focusing on the pilot and the airframe, and possibly a loss of control. But he said there is no evidence that would question the pilot’s qualifications.

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter was piloting the small plane. The 82-year-old and his wife, Paula, also were killed.

A person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press that Major League Baseball’s new labor contract will include blood testing for human growth hormone, a rise in the minimum salary to $480,000 and luxury taxes on amateur draft signings and international free agents.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The blood testing provision was first reported by the New York Times.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the NASCAR Nationwide Series title long before the checkered flag dropped in the season finale at Homestead, Fla.

Stenhouse clinched his first championship about 30 laps into the 200-lap race, securing the title when six cars dropped out of the 300-mile event at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Stenhouse was fourth when NASCAR officials announced he had wrapped up the title. He finished second behind Brad Keselowski. Carl Edwards was third, followed by Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin and Elliott Sadler.

Tobin Heath scored off a rebound in the 81st minute, helping the U.S. women’s soccer team tie Sweden, 1-1, in an exhibition at Glendale, Ariz.

World champion Patrick Chan of Canada overcame a slew of errors to win figure skating’s Trophee Bompard at Paris for the third time, and 14-year-old Russian Elizaveta Tuktamisheva won the women’s title with a clean, composed program. In pairs, Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the title. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada won the ice dance title.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek is expected to be out at least eight weeks because he needs surgery for a broken arm.