Scotland edges U.S. for first world golf title

Add the World Cup of Golf to Colin Montgomerie’s long resume.

Montgomerie and Marc Warren gave Scotland its first victory in the World Cup, defeating Americans Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum on Sunday with a par on the third hole of a playoff in Shenzhen, China.

The victory made up for Scotland’s loss last year in Barbados on the first hole of a playoff with Germany’s Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem.

Montgomerie’s tap-in for par on the third extra hole was good enough for Scotland when Weekley missed a 15-foot attempt to save par.

“It’s been a long time for Scotland to win the World Cup, since 1953,” said Montgomerie, an eight-time European No. 1. “There was pressure to come back after a playoff loss like we did last year, which was disappointing.”

The Americans forced the playoff on the last hole of regulation in alternate-shot play when Slocum made a five-foot birdie putt.

On the first playoff hole, Slocum missed a seven-foot birdie attempt that would have won it. Seconds before, Warren holed a 12-footer to save par. A miss would have handed the event to the U.S. On the second extra hole, both teams narrowly missed birdies -- Weekley from 20 feet and Warren from 12.

Weekley’s approach shot on the final playoff hole was short, and Slocum’s chip left his teammate with a difficult putt.

“Putting is the strong suit of my game, and I really didn’t have a good putting week at all,” Slocum said. “I was just due for the week to make something.”

Montgomerie chimed in, saying Slocum’s missed putt was the turning point.

“From then on, I felt we were the favorites,” he said.

Scotland shot a six-under 66, and the U.S. -- which led by a stroke after each of the first three rounds -- had a 67 to finish regulation at 25-under 263. France’s Gregory Havret and Raphael Jacquelin had a 67 to finish a stroke back. England’s Ian Poulter and Justin Rose also had a 67 to finish fourth at 23 under.

Weekley and Slocum were fortunate to be playing in the event. Weekley, ranked No. 43, was invited after 13 Americans ranked ahead of him turned it down. He then picked Slocum, his high school friend from Florida.

“We weren’t even supposed to be here, and that’s even a bonus,” Weekley said. “I know we feel disappointed how we finished up, but overall it was a great week.”

WINTER SPORTS

Svindal wins opening super-giant slalom

Defending overall champion Aksel Lund Svindal won the season-opening super-giant slalom at Lake Louise, Canada, his second victory of the World Cup season.

Svindal, the winner of the season-opening giant slalom in Solden, Austria, finished in 1 minute 29.19 seconds. Benjamin Raich was second in 1:29.63, followed by Didier Cuche in 1:29.79.

Steven Nyman was the top American, finishing 13th in 1:30.35. Scott Macartney was 17th in 1:30.60, and Bode Miller 25th in 1:30.90.

Marlies Schild raced to her second slalom victory in a row, beating world champion Sarka Zahrobska by 0.68 of a second in Panorama, Canada.

Schild had a two-run time of 1:39.95. Zahrobska finished in 1:40.63, and Ana Jelusic followed in 1:40.64. Defending overall World Cup champion Nicole Hosp was fifth.

Schild, who won the season-opening slalom Nov. 10 at Reiteralm, Austria, had the fastest time in the first run and the second-fastest time on her second pass through the 60-gate track. It was the 17th World Cup victory of her career, and she has won six of seven slaloms going back to last season.

Resi Stiegler was the top American, finishing ninth in 1:41.68. Julia Mancuso was 16th in 1:42.77, and Lindsey Vonn was 29th in 1:45.05.

MISCELLANY

USC men clinch berth with water polo title

Top-ranked USC defeated UC Irvine, 10-6, in the championship game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation at Berkeley.

Matt Sagehorn scored three goals and J.W. Krumpholz and Jovan Vranes had two goals apiece to help the second-seeded Trojans (18-2) clinch the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Championship next weekend at Stanford. The fifth-seeded Anteaters (14-11) were led by Tim Hutten’s four goals.

Randall Bal won the 50-meter backstroke to clinch first place in the overall short-course World Cup swimming final in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Bal clocked 23.62 seconds to total 186 points and take home $100,000 in prize money. Stefan Nystrands was second with 101 points.

In the women’s event, Therese Alshammar, who won the 50-meter butterfly in 25.69 seconds, took first place with 160 points to earn the same prize money.

Natalie Coughlin, who won the 100-meter medley in 59.81 seconds Sunday, was second with 110 points. Coughlin also won in 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

The event was the seventh and last meet of the five-week competition that was held in seven cities.

James Johnson set a Grey Cup record with three interceptions to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 23-19, at Toronto for their first Canadian Football League title in 18 years.

The former Arkansas State player, selected the most valuable player of the game, returned his first interception 30 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, and secured the victory with about a minute left with his third.

Santos Laguna, the top-seeded team in the Mexican league playoffs, got goals from Daniel Luduena and former Chivas USA midfielder Johnny Garcia to beat visiting Monarcas of Morelia, 2-1 (4-1 in aggregate goals), to advance to the semifinals.

Santos (13-1-5) will play Pumas UNAM (7-5-7) in the semifinals.

Pumas UNAM, the lowest-seeded team remaining in the playoffs, tied Toluca, 1-1, and advanced with a 3-1 advantage in aggregate goals. Christian Gimenez lifted the Red Devils’ hopes with a goal in the 35th minute, but Pumas’ Esteban Solari dashed any thoughts of a comeback with a score in the 64th.

The other semifinal will be Atlante (11-2-6) and Chivas Guadalajara (10-4-5).

The dates and times of the games will be announced today, but one series will begin Wednesday and the other Thursday.

-- Jaime Cardenas