AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy turned another major collapse into his grandest performance of all, hitting a wedge into 3 feet for birdie in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to finally win the Masters and take his place in golf history as the sixth player to claim the career Grand Slam. What should have been a coronation along the back nine at Augusta National turned into a heart-racing, lead-changing jaw-dropping finish at golf’s greatest theater that ended with McIlroy on his knees sobbing with joy and disbelief. Right when it looked as though he would blow another major, he delivered two majestic shots when nothing less would do.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Justin Rose played one of the best rounds of his career, and it wasn't quite enough to deny Rory McIlroy his long-sought title at the Masters. Rose shot a final-round 66 that he capped with a memorable 20-footer for birdie at No. 18, and then wound up in a playoff when McIlroy missed a par putt of his own at the finishing hole. But playing 18 again, Rose made par and McIlroy rolled in a 3-footer for birdie to win the green jacket. It was the second time Rose had lost a playoff at the Masters. He lost on the first playoff hole eight years ago, when Sergio Garcia made birdie and he made bogey.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cole Ragans struck out 10, walked none and allowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings, getting his first win this season as the Kansas City Royals overcame a two-run deficit to beat Cleveland 4-2 and stop the Guardians’ five-game winning streak. Ragans (1-0) gave up two runs — one earned — while throwing 64 of 89 pitches for strikes. Maikel Garcia had three hits, including a tiebreaking, two-run double off Ben Lively in the fifth that put the Royals ahead 4-2. Salvador Perez had tied the score in the fourth with his second home run this season, a two-run drive.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matthew Liberatore pitched six shutout innings, Willson Contreras and Jordan Walker homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-0. Liberatore allowed three hits and a walk and matched his season high with seven strikeouts. Phil Maton, JoJo Romero and Kyle Leahy each pitched a scoreless inning for the Cardinals who earned their second shutout of the season after blanking the Phillies on Friday night. Zack Wheeler allowed four runs and seven hits and a walk and had three strikeouts in six innings.
UNDATED (AP) — The final game to end in the NBA regular season was a big one for seeding in the Western Conference, with the Los Angeles Clippers beating the Golden State Warriors 124-119 in overtime Sunday to clinch the No. 5 seed. The Warriors fell to No. 7 and will host No. 8 Memphis on Tuesday, with the winner earning the No. 7 seed. The West bracket wasn’t set until a final day that had numerous teams in the running for numerous positions. Denver got the No. 4 spot and home-court advantage against the Clippers. Minnesota is No. 6 and will play the Lakers.
UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma City had a regular season like none other in NBA history. The Thunder — who went 68-14 — finished the season outscoring teams by 12.9 points per game, smashing the previous mark that had stood for more than a half-century. The Los Angeles Lakers outscored teams by 12.3 points per game in 1971-72, and that was the record until now. For the season. the Thunder outscored opponents by 1,055 points.
UNDATED (AP) — The Original Six teams based in the United States have a rich history, combining to hoist the Stanley Cup 27 times. And now, they share an unwanted distinction. Detroit, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers will all miss the playoffs in the same year for the first time in NHL history. The Red Wings have won 11 league championships to trail Montreal’s 23 and Toronto’s 13 and the Canada-based franchises have earned spots in the playoffs that start Saturday. Detroit was slowly improving under general manager Steve Yzerman until this year.
UNDATED (AP) — Authorities say ex-LSU receiver Kyren Lacy has died at age 24 in an apparent suicide in his car while being pursued by officers in Houston. Lacy already was facing criminal charges stemming from a fatal car accident in December in south Louisiana that had clouded his NFL prospects. Harris County authorities say their pursuit of Lacy late Saturday night ended when Lacy crashed his car. Authorities say when they went to extract Lacy, they said he had died of an apparent suicide. Lacy was pronounced dead at the scene. Lacy led LSU with nine touchdowns receiving last season and had declared for this month’s NFL draft.
SUNDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final San Francisco 5 N.Y. Yankees 4
Final Tampa Bay 8 Atlanta 3
Final N.Y. Mets 8 Athletics 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Kansas City 4 Cleveland 2
Final Minnesota 5 Detroit 1
Final Boston 3 Chicago White Sox 1
Final Houston 7 L.A. Angels 3
Final Toronto 7 Baltimore 6
Final Seattle 3 Texas 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 4 Pittsburgh 0
Final St. Louis 7 Philadelphia 0
Final Miami 11 Washington 4
Final San Diego 6 Colorado 0
Final Arizona 5 Milwaukee 2
Final Chicago Cubs 4 L.A. Dodgers 2
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Atlanta 117 Orlando 105
Final Washington 119 Miami 118
Final Boston 93 Charlotte 86
Final Chicago 122 Philadelphia 102
Final New York 113 Brooklyn 105
Final OT Milwaukee 140 Detroit 133
Final 2OT Indiana 126 Cleveland 118
Final Sacramento 109 Phoenix 98
Final Memphis 132 Dallas 97
Final Portland 109 L.A. Lakers 81
Final Minnesota 116 Utah 105
Final Denver 126 Houston 111
Final Oklahoma City 115 New Orleans 100
Final San Antonio 125 Toronto 118
Final OT L.A. Clippers 124 Golden State 119
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final N-Y Islanders 1 New Jersey 0
Final OT Ottawa 4 Philadelphia 3
Final Boston 4 Pittsburgh 1
Final Toronto 4 Carolina 1
Final Tampa Bay 7 Buffalo 4
Final Columbus 4 Washington 1
Final Edmonton 4 Winnipeg 1
Final Calgary 5 San Jose 2
Final Colorado 4 Anaheim 2