Lee Westwood finishes first on European Tour

Lee Westwood of England became Europe’s No. 1 golfer on Sunday after winning the Dubai World Championship by six strokes.

Westwood shot a course-record eight-under-par 64 in the final round at the Earth Course in the United Arab Emirates 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.

The 36-year-old 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.

Westwood, who won the European Order of Merit in 2000, couldn’t hold back tears after finishing his round.

“This is definitely the biggest moment of my career today,” he said. “Rory is only 20 -- I can’t even remember what it was like to be 20 -- and he will have many more chances ahead of him to win the money list.

“But this is my moment.”

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

The 48-year-old 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.

Lorena Ochoa and Jiyai Shin will settle their duel for LPGA Tour player of the year on the final, frantic day of the season.

Kristy McPherson finished off a five-under 67 in fading sunlight to move to eight under and take the lead in the LPGA Tour Championship at Richmond, Texas, before the second round was suspended because of darkness.

Shin was one stroke back with two holes to play in her second round; Ochoa was two back with one hole left. Players will resume the second round this morning, and the top 70 and ties will immediately begin the final round.

For Ochoa to win her fourth straight player of the year title, she must win or finish no worse than third and then hope Shin places out of the top 10.

TENNIS

Federer rallies to defeat Verdasco

Roger Federer overcame an erratic forehand and Fernando Verdasco, rallying to beat his Spanish opponent, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the round-robin stage of the ATP World Tour Finals at London.

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.

HORSE RACING

Talamo wins five races on the day

Jockey Joe Talamo experienced a day to remember, winning five races at Hollywood Park, including the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes aboard the 2-year-old filly Bickersons.

It has been quite a month for the 19-year-old Talamo, who won his first Breeders’ Cup race aboard California Flag in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint two weeks ago at Santa Anita.

Talamo won the first race with Outside Shot, the third with Brady Blue Eyes, the fifth with Sky Victor, the eighth with Bickersons and the ninth with A Jealous Woman.

-- Eric Sondheimer Jockey Garrett Gomez was taken off his scheduled mounts at Hollywood Park after escaping serious injury in a spill.

Gomez was resting Sunday, a day after being released from a hospital.

His agent says X-rays on Gomez’s shoulder and elbow were negative.

He says Gomez would return to riding later this week.

SOCCER

UCLA advances in NCAA event

Freshman forward Chandler Hoffman scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute to lead sixth-seeded UCLA to a 2-1 victory over Sacramento State in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Drake Stadium. The Bruins advanced to the third round and will host UC Santa Barbara on Sunday at 5 p.m.