Westwood wins European title

Lee Westwood of England became Europe's No. 1 golfer with his six-stroke victory on Sunday in the Dubai World Championship at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Westwood, 36, shot a course-record 8-under 64 in the final round at the Earth Course to finish at 23-under 265.

He earned $1.25 million with the 31st victory of his career to overtake Rory McIlroy on the season-long money list and win the European Tour's first Race to Dubai since it changed from the European Order of Merit.

Ross McGowan of England was second after a 68, and McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, shot a 67 to finish third at 273.

Westwood's $1.5 million bonus for finishing atop the money list took his total European Tour earnings to $6,376,984. McIlroy was next with $5,432,358.

LPGA Tour Championship: Kristy McPherson, 28, finished off a 5-under 67 in fading sunlight at Richmond, Texas, to take a one-stroke lead before the second round was suspended because of darkness.

McPherson was 8 under, one shot ahead of Jiyai Shin - the South Korean star who had two holes to play. Lorena Ochoa, dueling with Shin for the player of the year and scoring title, was two strokes back in a tie for third with one hole to play.

Players will resume the second round this morning and start the final round afterward.

Pebble Beach Invitational: Mark Brooks, 48, won the Pebble Beach, Calif., event for a record third time, birdieing three of the last four holes for a 5-under 67 and a two-stroke victory over Rickie Fowler and D.A. Points.

Brooks, the 1996 PGA champion, had a 12-under 276 total and became the first three-time winner in the tournament's 38-year history. The seven-time PGA Tour winner also won the unofficial event in 1992 and 2002.

Mina Harigae shot a 68 to finish at 6 under. She was the only one of the four women in the field to make the cut.

Dunlop Phoenix: Italy's Edoardo Molinari defeated Sweden's Robert Karlsson on the second playoff hole at Miyazaki, Japan.

Charlotte team picks Lopez

Argentine driver Jose Maria Lopez says he is poised to sign with the USF1 Formula One team for its inaugural 2010 season, pending completion of a sponsorship package.

Both driver and Charlotte-based team said a deal was imminent for him to become the first signed driver for its debut season.

Lopez is a former Renault F1 test driver and raced in Europe in Formula 3000 and GP2. He then returned to touring car racing in Argentina, winning the past two TC2000 titles.

Federer defeats Verdasco

Roger Federer overcame an erratic forehand and Fernando Verdasco on Sunday, rallying to beat his Spanish opponent 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the round-robin stage of the ATP World Tour Finals, a tournament for the world's top eight men's tennis players.

In the early Group A match, Andy Murray overcame a second-set slump to beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

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