AUSTRALIAN MASTERS: Robert Allenby became the first player to win the "triple crown" of Australian golf in the same season, when he beat Bubba Watson of the US in a play-off at the Australian Masters at Huntingdale Golf Club in Melbourne yesterday.
Australian Allenby, who won the Open at Moonah Links two weeks ago and PGA last week at Coolum in Queensland, beat the American on the first play-off hole after the pair had tied for 17-under-par 271.
Allenby two-putted to make par on the par-four 18th then watched as Watson's first putt slid past the right hand side of the hole then the second attempt lipped out, giving the 34-year-old the title.
Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy shot 73, 72 over the weekend to finish on 289.
Watson, who started in third overnight on 12-under, tore up the course with a mixture of eight birdies and three bogeys to post a five-under 67 to force his way into the play-off.
Allenby had an opportunity to win the tournament on the final hole in regulation, but his 30-foot putt for birdie came up short.
Left-hander Nick O'Hern, who held the lead for 65 of the 72 holes, faltered over the last seven with four bogeys and finished two strokes further back on 15-under-par in third.
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Annika Sorenstam ended another great season in style by captaining the International Team to a 16-8 victory over Asia in the inaugural Lexus Cup at Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore yesterday.
Leading 8-4 going into the final day and needing just four and a half points from the singles, American Erica Blasberg had the honour of putting the contest beyond doubt with a 3 and 2 win over Japan's Riko Higashio in the ninth match.
By then, Sorenstam, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Karen Stupples had already done the business for their team.
Sorenstam led by example in the top match against Asian Team captain Grace Park. She lost the first hole to a birdie but hit back with five birdies in a 2 and 1 win.
