MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 SPORTS

McIlroy wins Race to Dubai BELEK: World number one Rory McIlroy the third youngest player in history after yesterday was assured of capturing the Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods - to win 2014 Race to Dubai crown, rewarding the three of golf’s four major Championships. top European PGA Tour golfer of the year. A tied runner-up finish in the Alfred The Northern Irishman was not playing Dunhill Links Championship, which took this week in the season’s penultimate tour- place a week after he played his part in nament in Belek, Turkey, but made it past Europe’s victory over America in The Ryder the post anyway when none of his nearest Cup, means McIlroy has now finished in the challengers were able to win. top two in each of his last four appearances That meant that no player could over- on The European Tour. haul British Open and PGA Championship The Northern Irishman will now go in winner McIroy in next week’s season-end- search of a second victory in next week’s ing finale in Dubai. lucrative season finale in Dubai, having tri- It is the second time in three years that umphed two years ago thanks to a stunning he has won the Race to Dubai title and at 25 five-birdie finish. he becomes the youngest player in history “This has obviously been the best season to win The European Tour’s money list twice. of my career by a long way, and to win The McIlroy first captured the Harry Vardon Race to Dubai for the second time really is Trophy, awarded to the player who finishes something truly special,” he said. “That four- the season as Europe’s Number One, in 2012 week spell over the summer, from The Open after winning both the PGA Championship to the US PGA Championship, would have and the DP World Tour Championship in to be the best golf of my life, so I feel like Dubai. After starting his inexorable march I’ve really earned The Race to Dubai. this year towards the summit of both The “Winning it for the first time two years Race to Dubai and Official World Golf ago was a fantastic feeling, but I feel like Rankings with victory in the BMW PGA I’m now a more complete player and my Championship in May, McIlroy then hit a all-round game has moved to another lev- purple patch from mid-July. el. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work this sea- In a stunning four-week spell, McIlroy son, with my game and my fitness, so it’s increased his tally of major titles to four by nice to get the rewards at the end of it. “In first winning The British Open and then the some ways the pressure is off next week, US PGA Championship, with a maiden vic- but I’ll fight very hard to end the year on a tory in a World Golf Championship event, at high with another victory. “I’ve a great the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, sand- record in this tournament, and in Dubai wiched in the middle for good measure. generally, having secured my first CORVALLIS: Oregon State cornerback Larry Scott breaks up a pass intended for Arizona State receiver Cameron Smith (6) during the second In the process, the 25 year old became European Tour win there in 2009.” — AFP quarter of an NCAA college football game. — AP Alabama hold off Bulldogs

TUSCALOOSA: Blake Sims, TJ Yeldon and No. 4 straight time. The Seminoles clinched the ACC’s early touchdown for the Beavers. Alabama’s relentless defense delivered on a big Atlantic Division title earlier in the day when At Athens, Georgia, Nick Chubb shared the stage, and the Crimson Tide held off No. 1 Clemson lost. They were down 16-0 and 23-7 spotlight in Todd Gurley’s return, with both backs Mississippi State 25-20 on Saturday. before outscoring the Hurricanes 23-3 in the final rushing for more than 100 yards as No.16 Georgia The Tide (9-1, 6-1 SEC) reasserted itself as a 2 1/2 quarters. routed No.9 Auburn 34-7. national title contender with a dominant first half At Lawrence, Kansas City, Aaron Green ran for Georgia dominated the latest edition in Deep and some clutch play in the fourth quarter. 128 yards and two touchdowns, Cameron Echols- South’s oldest rivalry, handing the Tigers its sec- Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs (9-1, 5-1) kept Luper returned a punt 69 yards for another score ond straight loss and finishing off any hopes they fighting to keep their first-ever reign going for a and No.5 TCU turned back a spirited upset bid had of repeating as Southeastern Conference sixth week. They couldn’t conquer Alabama at from Kansas to win 34-30. Trevone Boykin added champions. raucous Bryant-Denny Stadium, though. 330 yards passing and a touchdown for TCU, Melvin Gordon rushed for a major college- Mississippi State scored early in the fourth to which trailed 27-17 midway through the third record 408 yards and four touchdowns and No.22 make it a six-point game but Sims and Yeldon quarter before a big finishing kick that kept the Wisconsin overcame three early turnovers to take answered with a steady march to the end zone. Horned Frogs in playoff contention. JT Barrett control of the Big Ten West, beating No.11 The Bulldogs produced a touchdown with 15 threw for three touchdowns and ran for an Ohio Nebraska 59-24. seconds left after a drive took 3 precious minutes State quarterback-record 189 yards and another Jeremy Langford ran for 138 yards and two off the clock. Alabama recovered the onside kick score, helping the No.8 Buckeyes overcome three touchdowns, and No. 12 Michigan State received to secure its seventh straight win in the series. turnovers and wintry weather to beat Minnesota a strong performance from its defense for a 37- HAMBURG: IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko from Ukraine At Miami Gardens, Florida, Dalvin Cook ran for 31-24. 15 victory over Maryland. (right) punches at Bulgarian boxer Kubrat Pulev during their IBF heavyweight world two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score Sean Mannion’s 66-yard touchdown pass early In other games, Northwestern upset No.15 championships title bout. — AP late in the fourth, and No.2 Florida State erased a in the fourth quarter gave Oregon State the lead Notre Dame 43-40 in overtime, No. 17 Arizona 16-point deficit to win 30-26 in another impres- and Michael Doctor’s 35-yard interception return edged to a 27-26 over Washington, No.24 Klitschko KO’s Pulev sive rally. for a score with 1:38 left sealed a 35-27 win over Georgia Tech downed No.18 Clemson 28-6, Jameis Winston completed 25 of 42 passes for No.7 Arizona State. Mannion threw for 251 yards Virginia Tech beat No.19 Duke 17-16 and 304 yards for the Seminoles (10-0, 7-0 Atlantic and two touchdowns for Oregon State (5-5, 2-5 Arkansas shutout No.20 LSU 17-0. Also, No.21 to retain IBF crown Coast Conference), who extended their winning Pac-12), while Villamin had four catches for 127 Marshall thrashed Rice 41-14 and No.25 Utah streak to 26 games and beat Miami for the fifth yards and Terron Ward ran for 148 yards and an beat Stanford 20-17. — AP HAMBURG: World heavyweight champion hook finished the job in round five with a Vladimir Klitschko knocked out Bulgarian dazed Pulev staying down for the count. challenger Kubrat Pulev with a fierce left “I made my professional debut here 18 hook in the fifth round on Saturday to years ago and I love this city,” a beaming Elliott grabs Nationwide title retain his IBF title and end his opponent’s Klitschko, who has his base in the northern unbeaten record. German city, said in a ringside interview. HOMESTEAD: could let Matt third. “Almost had second, but Kyle was able November. He turns 19 on Nov. 28. He had The 38-year-old Klitschko, who also “It was difficult to get that hook in. I kept Kenseth take a spin with the checkered flag. to squeeze around me,” Larson said. “I proba- three wins this season and 16 top-five finishes holds the WBO, IBO and WBA titles, trying but he managed to stay away. I tried Even without the win, Elliott had a champi- bly could have shut the door on him, but we in 33 races. The son of Hall of Fame inductee knocked down the 33-year-old twice in the it a few times and at the end it worked.” onship celebration waiting for him in Victory weren’t going to win, so there was no point in and 1988 NASCAR champion Bill Elliott beat opening round as Pulev initially struggled Klitschko has now improved his record to Lane. Elliott finally got to enjoy his maybe tearing up two cars.” With six wins from JR Motorsports teammate Regan Smith for to keep his taller opponent at a distance. 63 wins out of his 66 fights with 54 knock- Nationwide Series title after he finished 17th five drivers, Roger Penske clinched the the title. It was the first Nationwide title for The Bulgarian, who had won his previous outs. Pulev is 20-1. “I feel good,” Pulev said, in the season finale Saturday night at Nationwide owner’s title to made it 2 for 2 in the team owned by Earnhardt, his sister 20 fights, was again floored in the third nursing an ice pack on his quickly swelling round when he was sent sprawling by a right cheek. “I am satisfied with my perform- Homestead-Miami Speedway. championships this season. Team Penske won Kelley, and Rick Hendrick. The Elliotts are the thundering left hook. ance. Vladimir is a good opponent but I think He became the youngest champion in the IndyCar championship with Will Power in fifth father/son duo to win NASCAR national He looked to be finding his way back he had a bit of luck. “Now I want revenge and NASCAR history last week when he wrapped September, and a victory by Joey Logano in series championships. The others are Lee into the fight, landing a big right that rat- it will be different result,” said the up the title at Phoenix International Raceway. Sunday’s Sprint Cup season finale would Petty and Richard Petty, Ned Jarrett and Dale tled the Ukrainian but another giant left Bulgarian.— Reuters All that was missing was the trophy presenta- make Penske the only team owner to com- Jarrett, David Pearson and Larry Pearson, and tion he got at Homestead. plete the sweep of major American racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott “This week, more than anything, has titles. proved he’s a champion driver, leaving open allowed me to sit back and think, not only of “I’ve got two boxes checked off now,” the question if he will move up to the elite all the people who have helped me this year, Penske said. “I get one more tomorrow.” Chevy Sprint Cup series. Larson spent just one sea- but there’s a lot of great names who have won the manufacturers’ championship, the son in Nationwide last year before he was pro- helped me my entire career,” Elliott said. The first for its Camaro brand that debuted in moted to Cup, and Elliott could be on that 18-year-old rookie is the youngest driver to 2013. Elliott, the first Nationwide champion to same fast track. win a title in any of NASCAR’s three national also win the rookie of the year award, made Hendrick has indicated they’ll keep him in series. He broke the mark set by , his biggest mistake of the season when he the second-tier series for now. Hendrick who was 20 when he won the Nationwide smacked the wall late in the race making a Motorsports does not have an open seat next title in 2003. Kenseth got the jump on the hard push for a top-10 finish. He couldn’t take year, and many believe Elliott could be Jeff final restart in overtime to earn his first win of the checkered flag - but he came away with a Gordon’s successor whenever he chooses to the season in any NASCAR series. pretty nice consolation prize. retire. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won a race He grabbed the championship flag and Xfinity now becomes just the third title in anything,” Kenseth said. “Kyle (Larson) got kicked up a cloud of yellow smoke off a sponsor in series history. Anheuser-Busch around me on the second to last restart, and burnout on the painted grass. The first-time spent 26 years as title sponsor and when he chose the bottom and I had Kyle champ needs to work on his celebrations - he Nationwide has been sponsor the last 11 but behind me, I knew we had a shot. I just had to smacked the wall during the burnout, bring- is moving into team sponsorship next season. get a better restart.” ing a smile from team owner Dale Earnhardt “We have truly enjoyed our time as the series It was the final race for NASCAR’s second- Jr. “I know it was ugly. We didn’t have a very sponsor and are grateful for the relationships HUELVA: Spain’s midfielder Pedro Rodriguez tries to kick the ball during the UEFA tier series under the Nationwide banner. It will good run, but we’ll take it,” Elliott said. The we’ve made with the drivers, teams, owners, Euro 2016 qualifying football match against Belarus. — AFP be renamed the Xfinity Series next season. Victory Lane bash capped a whirlwind year for and fans,” said Jim McCoy, director of sports Spain blank Belarus was second, and Larson finished Elliot, who didn’t even have a ride last marketing for Nationwide Insurance. — AP

HUELVA: A fabulous goal by Real Madrid mid- Saturday and fell further behind just a minute fielder Isco set Spain on the way to a comfort- after conceding the opener, Juanfran cutting able 3-0 home victory against Belarus in Euro the ball back for Busquets to fire a low first- 2016 qualifying on Saturday. time strike past ‘keeper Yuri Zhevnov. Spain Sergio Busquets and Pedro Rodriguez were monopolised possession but took until 10 also on target as the defending European minutes into the second half before adding champions made it three wins from four another goal, with Atletico Madrid right-back matches in qualifying Group C to sit level on Juanfran again the provider for another nine points with Ukraine, three points behind Barcelona player, Pedro, to net his 16th inter- leaders Slovakia. national goal. Del Bosque handed competitive The likes of Andres Iniesta, David Silva, international debuts in the second half to Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa were all miss- Villarreal midfielder Bruno Soriano, Napoli’s ing from coach Vicente del Bosque’s starting Jose Callejon and Alvaro Morata of Juventus line-up, but Gerard Pique did feature despite and Pedro hit the post late on from a Bruno falling out of favor at his club Barcelona and pass as the hosts almost made it four. Iker Casillas was in goal. Spain are now unbeaten in 34 home However, Casillas had very little to do in a games and can look forward to a glamour game played in the Andalusian town of friendly with World Cup winners Germany in Huelva, home to Spain’s oldest club, the north-western city of Vigo tomorrow. Recreativo. And it was a local boy who had the Their next qualifier will be at home to Ukraine Huelva crowd on their feet in the 18th minute, in March. Meanwhile, Germany defender Isco marking his first start for Spain by collect- Jerome Boateng is the latest World Cup win- ing possession 20 yards from goal and curling ner to pull out of tomorrow’s friendly against a magnificent shot high into the top left-hand Spain in Vigo as head coach Joachim Loew’s corner of the net. Belarus had taken just one injury list mounts. Centre-back Boateng has point from their opening three qualifiers, a pulled out with a calf injury and joins Bayern string of results that precipitated the resigna- Munich team-mate Manuel Neuer, who has tion of coach Georgi Kondratiev and the cried off on Saturday with a knee injury, in appointment of Andriy Zygmantovich on an missing out in the friendly against the interim basis. But they stood little chance on European champions. —AFP HOMESTEAD: Chase Elliott celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nationwide series championship. — AP