Chopra takes home first PGA Tour victory
Daniel Chopra tapped in for par, then pumped his right fist into the air.
Finally, victory was his.
Chopra reclaimed the lead with a birdie at the par-5 16th hole Monday morning and held on to win the oft-delayed Ginn sur Mer Classic in Port St. Lucie, Fla., edging Fredrik Jacobsen and Shigeki Mauryama by one shot for his first PGA Tour triumph.
Chopra finished at 19 under, becoming the 12th first-round winner on tour this season.
The win came in Chopra’s 133rd career start, and the $810,000 winner’s check pushed his career earnings to just shy of $5 million.
Maruyama left with one pretty good consolation prize – a card for next season.
His tie for second earned him $396,000, vaulting him from 137th to 103rd on the money list with just one tournament remaining, meaning he’s a cinch to finish among the top 125 and have full playing privileges next season.
Jacobsen’s finish was his best in 96 starts on tour.
Soccer
World Cup changes
The World Cup will no longer be rotated among continents, a decision that throws open the race for the 2018 tournament.
South Africa already has been awarded the 2010 tournament and soccer’s governing body is expected to announce Brazil – the only candidate – as the 2014 host today.
Those interested in hosting the 2018 World Cup include the United States, England, Russia, Australia, Spain, China, Mexico and a joint bid from the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
• Juan Pablo Angel of New York, Cuauhtemoc Blanco of Chicago or Luciano Emilio of D.C. United could win two of Major League Soccer’s most prestigious year-end awards next month.
All three were announced as finalists for MLS Most Valuable Player and Newcomer of the Year.
Miscellany
NASCAR admits mistake
NASCAR conceded that water got into the fuel supply of more than two cars during the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, apparently leading to a crash that took out several top contenders in the closing laps.
Denny Hamlin was leading the Pep Boys Auto 500 with three laps to go when his car stalled while taking the green flag after a caution period. Martin Truex, who led the most laps Sunday, smashed into the back of Hamlin’s car and finished 31st. Hamlin slipped to 24th.
•Nearly four months after giving birth, Lisa Leslie is back on the court, joining the U.S. women’s national basketball team for its eight-team college tour that begins Wednesday night against Maryland.
•Marius Bogdan Dinu, Ronald Gavril and Gabriel Julian Stan, three Romanian boxers, were sent home from the world championships and banned for life after reportedly being caught shoplifting at a department store in Chicago.
•Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.