United States Tops New Zealand For Third Dunhill Cup Championship

Steve Stricker, who failed to qualify for last year’s British Open at St. Andrews in Scotland, helped the United States beat New Zealand 2-1 Sunday on the same course and win its third Dunhill Cup title.

Earlier in the day, the United States defeated Sweden in the semifinals of the $468,000 event in a match in which Phil Mickelson got into a nasty exchange with Jarmo Sandelin.

Stricker shot a 5-under-par 67 to beat Grant Waite by six strokes. Stricker was the only player to win all five matches in the competition.

In the semifinal victory over Sweden, Mickelson not only lost his match against Sandelin but also was involved in an exchange of words with the Swede. Sandelin said after the match that Mickelson had made uncomplimentary comments about his game and also accused the Swede of not showing him respect on the course by effectively cheering his own winning putts.

David Ogrin hung on after a potentially disastrous triple bogey to beat Jay Haas and a charging Tiger Woods at the Texas Open in San Antonio for his first victory in 14 years on the PGA Tour.

Annika Sorenstam pulled away from Laura Davies to win the inaugural Betsy King LPGA Classic in Kutztown, Pa., with an 18-under-par 270 total that tied the season low for a 72-hole tournament.

American Tom Kite shot a final round 2-under-par 70 to win the OKI Pro-Am golf tournament in Madrid, Spain, by one stroke over Argentina’s Angel Cabrera.