McIlroy ups style in Shanghai win

Shanghai, November 3

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy hit a towering approach shot to set up a birdie at the first extra hole and win the WGC-HSBC Champions in a play-off with American Xander Schauffele in Shanghai today.

After defending champion Schauffele had birdied the par-5 18th in the final round to tie in regulation, McIlroy prevailed in sudden death, relieved to escape with his fourth victory of the year, and the 26th of his decade-long professional career.

He struck a towering four-iron from 225 yards to within 20 feet of the pin for a two-putt birdie that Schauffele, whose drive had ended in the rough, could not match with his 10-foot birdie opportunity.

McIlroy carded a 4-under-par 68 in an exciting final round at the Sheshan International, while Schauffele had a 66 in what turned into a battle royale in front of a massive pro-McIlroy gallery at Sheshan International. The pair finished at 19-under-par 269, two shots ahead of South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Back-to-back wins for Korda 

Taipei: America's Nelly Korda claimed back-to-back victory in the LPGA Taiwan Championship in a play-off against two players today to clinch her second win this year. 

Korda, 21, successfully defended her title against the Australia's Minjee Lee and Germany's Caroline Masson after they all finished with an aggregate score of 18-under-par 270. Korda had a three-shot lead over Lee, who was also runner-up to her last year, after the third round but struggled in the final day hitting five birdies and five bogeys to go into the play-off. “It was "very dramatic, a little bit harder than I wanted it to be but I am happy I got it done... I was very nervous  because it was my first playoff," she said. — Agencies