GOLF
Rose winner in Jakarta
Justin Rose played 30 holes on Sunday in the weather-delayed Indonesian Masters in Jakarta, closing for a final-round 10-under 62 and an eight-stroke victory at Royale Jakarta Golf Club. The Englishman was 10-under after 13 holes in the final round and looking like he could achieve a 59, but bogeyed the par-4 16th. After weather delays on Friday and Saturday, Rose was forced to play the final 12 holes of his third round on Sunday. He completed that in 66 to give him a three-stroke lead heading into the final round, which started almost immediately and with the same threesomes as the third round. Rose, who led after all the first and later delayed rounds, had a 72-hole total of 29-under 259. Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand (65) was second.
9 likely to get invites
A late surge by Kiradech Aphibarnrat makes him among nine players projected to get invitations to the Masters by finishing the year in the top 50 in the world ranking. Kiradech ended his year with four consecutive top 10s, including a fifth-place finish Sunday in the Indonesian Masters. The Thai is projected to finish the year at No. 49, one spot ahead of Yusaku Miyazato of Japan, who also will get to Augusta National. The last tournament offering ranking points this year is on the Asian Development Tour and is not expected to affect the top 50. The other seven who get into the Masters through the world ranking are Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren, Matt Fitzpatrick, Branden Grace, Ross Fisher, Yuta Ikeda and Bernd Wiesberger. That puts the field of players expected to compete at 80 going into next year. The Masters also invites players who are in the top 50 on March 25, and anyone winning a PGA Tour event that offers full FedEx Cup points.
Cabreras win Challenge
Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera Jr. closed with a 12-under 60 for a three-shot victory in their debut at the PNC Father-Son Challenge at Orlando, Fla. The Cabreras opened with a 59 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and were challenged briefly by the defending champions, David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites, in the scramble format Sunday. The Argentines went out in 30, and they had a two-shot lead with Cabrera's son came within an inch of chipping in for eagle on the final hole. They finished at 25-under 199 for a three-shot victory over Duval and Karavites, and Bernhard Langer and Jason Langer. The Langer team won in 2014. Mark O'Meara and Shaun O'Meara tied for fourth at 21 under with Jerry Pate and Wesley Pate.
BASKETBALL
Heat's Johnson out
This no longer is a season for the Miami Heat, it is a puzzle. The pieces keep changing for Coach Erik Spoelstra and now his most versatile element has been sidelined. A Sunday MRI determined forward James Johnson has bursitis in his right ankle. Johnson is projected to miss seven to 10 days, according to the Heat, a timetable that would have him out for four or five games. Johnson left Saturday's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena in the first quarter, hobbling as he left the building. The only game he has had missed to this point was a Nov. 1 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls, with tendinitis in his right knee. Among the others that are out are Hassan Whiteside (bone bruise), Justise Winslow (strained knee), Okaro White (foot surgery) and Rodney McGruder (leg surgery).
Sneaker statement
LeBron James made a statement Sunday with his shoes. James wore one black sneaker and one white sneaker for the first half of his Cleveland Cavaliers' game at the Washington Wizards -- and each had the word "equality" written in gold capital letters on the back. The four-time NBA MVP wore a pair of black shoes with "equality" written on them for Cleveland's opening game of the season. James changed shoes for the second half.
Elliott returns to Cowboys
Suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott is not only coming back from his time away from the Dallas Cowboys in great shape but also with a full-length documentary, sources have confirmed. Elliott will report to Cowboys headquarters today after roughly six weeks of intense training in Cabo San Lucas. And as initially reported by the NFL Network, Elliott has also used his time away to work on a documentary in which he will tell his side of the story and chronicle what he did during his suspension. Elliott was suspended by the NFL for violating league's personal conduct policy for allegedly committing domestic violence against former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson. Elliott was never charged or arrested in the case. He took the NFL to federal court and played for the first eight games before finally giving up his legal fight.
More surgery for Luck?
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is preparing to resume throwing after he completes treatments on his surgically repaired shoulder in Europe, but another surgery reportedly is a possibility. If Luck, who has missed all of the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in January, experiences pain when throwing, he'll have a procedure on his biceps tendon, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. That biceps surgery would require three to six months of recovery. Luck was unable to throw without pain this season and the Colts decided to shut him down for good in November. Biceps surgery could complicate things for the 2018 season now, as well. Luck reportedly followed other athletes like Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez in seeking treatment in Europe.
FOOTBALL
Panthers owner, facing investigation, to sell team
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Facing a growing investigation that accuses him of sexual misconduct and using racist language at work, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson announced Sunday that he will sell the NFL team after the season.
The team announced on Twitter that Richardson is selling the team, linking to a five-paragraph letter by the franchise’s only owner.
“I believe it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership,” Richardson wrote, saying he wouldn’t begin discussions until after the season. The Panthers, who lost the Super Bowl in 2016, are in playoff position again.
“I hope everyone in the organization, both on and off the field, will be firmly focused on one mission: to play and win the Super Bowl,” said Richardson, 81.
The NFL awarded Richardson, a former player with the Baltimore Colts, an expansion franchise in 1993, and he has been the team’s only owner.
Richardson’s letter did not directly address the investigation.
Richardson attended Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers at Bank of America Stadium and was photographed sitting beside his wife Rosalind in his luxury box. He did not speak to reporters.
The Panthers are tied to Charlotte through June 2019.
The city of Charlotte and the Panthers reached agreement on improvements for the team’s stadium in 2013. The plan called for the city to contribute about $87 million for renovations to Bank of America Stadium in exchange for a six-year deal to keep the Panthers in Charlotte.
Forbes estimates the Panthers worth at $2.3 billion.
Richardson’s announcement comes after a Sports Illustrated report that cited unnamed sources who said Richardson made sexually suggestive comments to women and on at least one occasion directed a racial slur at an African-American Panthers scout. The report states that the settlements came with non-disclosure requirements forbidding the parties from discussing the details.
The NFL on Sunday said it has taken over the investigation of allegations of workplace misconduct. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league had no comment on the report.
Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said Sunday the team requested the league take over the investigation.
Sports on 12/18/2017