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LAS VEGAS — Rory McIlroy capped a big weekend in Las Vegas on Sunday by surging past Rickie Fowler and holding off Collin Morikawa to win the CJ Cup at Summit for his 20th PGA Tour title.

McIlroy seized control with a 35-foot eagle putt from just off the green on the par-5 14th and then playing mistake-free down the stretch for a 6-under 66.

McIlroy is the 39th player to win at least 20 times on the PGA Tour, and it’s his fifth straight PGA Tour season with at least one win.

Fowler, who started the final round with a two-shot lead as he tried to end nearly three years without a victory, faded with a pair of three-putts and shot 71 to tie for third. The threat came from Morikawa, a member at The Summit Club, who shot 29 on the front to get in the mix and closed with an eagle for a 62.

That forced McIlroy to play mistake-free after his big eagle putt on the 14th, and he never came close to a bogey in finishing at 25-under 263.

“It is a big carrot,” McIlroy said of the 20 wins. “I didn’t know it would be this week.”

He went into the weekend nine shots out of the lead, made up plenty of ground with a 62 on Saturday and then pulled away by taking advantage of the scoring holes.

It was similar to his first win on the PGA Tour in 2010 at Quail Hollow. McIlroy was nine shots behind going into the weekend at that tournament and closed with rounds of 66-62 to win.

Morikawa was watching from the balcony overlooking the 18th green to see if he would get a chance for extra holes, though it was asking a lot for McIlroy to drop a shot on the par-5 closing hole. McIlroy laid back off the tee, played short of the green and hit wedge to the back pin to assure a two-putt par and another trophy.

Part of him was sparked by a disappointing Ryder Cup, when he didn’t win a point until Sunday singles when it was too late and was choked up with emotion talking about it.

He wanted to get back to his roots as a player, and it worked out just fine against a strong field that allowed McIlroy to move from No. 15 in the world to back among the top 10.

“Being me is enough,” he said. “Being me can let me do things like this.”

Keith Mitchell, who had a five-shot lead going into the weekend until a 73 in the third round, closed with a 67 and tied for third with Fowler.

Fowler was poised to end a 32-month drought by starting the final round with a two-shot lead and looking as though he was intent on finishing it off. He made an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 4 that became a two-shot swing when McIlroy had a careless three-putt bogey.

That began to change on the par-5 sixth. From the middle of the fairway, Fowler pulled a fairway metal into the desert, took a penalty drop, and then three-putted from 35 feet for a double bogey. McIlroy made birdie and just like that they were tied, along with others farther along in the round.

Talor Gooch holed out for eagle on the par-5 18th for a 62. Morikawa went out in 29 and was tied for the lead. Robert Streb also was tied for the lead at that point at 21-under par.

McIlroy and Fowler in the final group were tied at 22 under going to the back when Fowler made another mistake.

McIlroy was looking at potential bogey, coming out of a fairway bunker well short of the green on the 10th and facing a tough flop shot over another bunker to a tight pin. Fowler had 18 feet for birdie. McIlroy hit to inches away for par, while Fowler gunned his birdie chance some 5 feet by the hole and missed that for a three-putt bogey.

Fowler never caught up.

Morikawa ran out of momentum. Sure, he closed with a birdie that forced McIlroy to play mistake-free over the final four holes, but the British Open champion failed to take advantage of birdie chances on the reachable par-4 12th and the par-5 14th with an iron from the fairway.

“Whenever you shoot 62 you’re always going to be pleased,” Morikawa said. “But I thought I left a few out there, especially with some putts. But overall I’m very pleased the way this last 18 went, especially at a course that I’ve played a lot. I felt very comfortable and it’s a good way to start the season.”

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Orioles, veteran RHP Morton agree to 1-year deal

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Orioles, veteran RHP Morton agree to 1-year deal

After losing ace Corbin Burnes via free agency, the Baltimore Orioles bolstered their rotation on Friday, agreeing to a one-year contract with veteran right-hander Charlie Morton.

A 17-year veteran and two-time All-Star, Morton posted an 8-10 record with a 4.19 ERA, 167 strikeouts and 65 walks in 30 starts for the Atlanta Braves in 2024.

Morton, 41, has proved to be durable even in the late stages of his career, as he’s one of only four pitchers with at least 30 starts in each full season since 2018.

A third-round pick by Atlanta in the 2002 draft, Morton has pitched for the Braves (2008, 2021-23) along with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-15), Philadelphia Phillies (2016), Houston Astros (2017-18) and Tampa Bay Rays (2019-20).

He is 138-123 in 383 games (382 starts) with a 4.01 ERA, 2,047 strikeouts and 787 walks.

In 2019 with the Rays, Morton finished 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 33 starts, placing third in American League Cy Young Award voting and making the All-Star team for the second consecutive season.

Baltimore catcher Rene Pinto was designated for assignment to open a spot for Morton on the 40-man roster.

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Sources: Dodgers, Hyeseong Kim agree to deal

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Sources: Dodgers, Hyeseong Kim agree to deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim on a three-year, $12.5 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

Kim, 25, was posted by the Kiwoom Heroes on Dec. 5, marking Friday as a deadline to sign with a major league team. He’s known an an elite defender at multiple positions as he played second base, shortstop, third base and in the outfield for the Heroes over his eight-year run with the team.

His current fit with the Dodgers could be as a super utility player, depending on what other moves the team makes this winter. Kim is a career .304 hitter with 37 home runs and 211 stolen bases in 953 games while playing in the KBO. His speed alone can affect games, especially with the newer MLB rules that put an emphasis on base stealing.

The deal includes team options for 2028 and 2029, while the Dodgers also have to pay a $2.5 million release fee to Kiwoom. Per rules, the release fee is 20% of the total package.

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Hernandez returning to Dodgers on 3-year deal

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Hernandez returning to Dodgers on 3-year deal

LOS ANGELES — Teoscar Hernández will be in right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers next season when the World Series champions try to defend their title.

The outfielder was at Dodger Stadium on Friday after agreeing to rejoin the team on a $66 million, three-year contract.

“I had my mind clear that I wanted to come back and I was going to do anything in my power to make it work and be back with the Dodgers,” Hernández said.

He played last season on a $23.5 million, one-year deal and proved his value by becoming an All-Star and winning the Home Run Derby along with a third career Silver Slugger, which earned him a $1 million bonus. He capped it all by helping the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Hernández said he had offers from other teams that would have gotten him an additional $5 million to $6 million.

“For me, money wasn’t an issue,” he said.

Hernández’s deal comes with a $23 million signing bonus. The Dodgers hold a club option of $15 million for 2028 with a $6.5 million buyout. The contract also features $23.5 million in deferred money.

He called the Dodgers “different” than other teams.

“They give me the confidence. I didn’t get that really in other places,” Hernández said. “They trust me in everything that I can give them. That was one of the biggest things for me, that pushed me to do the best job that I can do in a Dodgers uniform.”

Manager Dave Roberts welcomed the return of Hernández.

“It’s not just about getting the most talented players. You’ve got to be good on the field and you’ve got to play the game a certain way,” he said. “What that does is it makes people around you better, it holds teammates accountable. For us, Teo checked every single box.”

Hernández hit a career-high 33 home runs and drove in 99 runs last season. The 32-year-old hit .272 in 154 games.

“He always put the team first and you could see that there was a real love of the game that he brought to the field each and every day,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “I do think because of the way he plays with such passion and joy, when those big moments came up, it was something that he really cherished and was able to put the team first and slow the heartbeat down and do whatever was needed in that situation.”

Hernández will be in right field with Mookie Betts moving back to shortstop. Newcomer Michael Conforto will be in left.

Hernández was embraced by Dodgers fans and their support didn’t go unnoticed.

“I appreciate since the first day that I got here Dodgers fans were cheering for me,” he said. “They were giving me the support that I need to have the season that I have last year. When you have that support as a player, you have to give 110 percent every day.”

Information from The Associated Press and Field Level Media was used in this report.

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