Golf
CARMEL, Ind. – Dustin Johnson was powerful off the tee and relentless with the putter, closing with a 5-under 67 to win the BMW Championship by three shots and move to the top of the FedEx Cup.
Paul Casey also closed with a 67 and it still wasn’t enough. Casey made a 25-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole to briefly get within one shot, only for Johnson to make an 18-foot eagle on top of him.
Johnson won for the third time in his last eight tournaments, starting with his first major at the U.S. Open.
Charl Schwartzel closed with a 64 and got the 30th spot to advance to the FedEx Cup finale at the Tour Championship. Schwartzel knocked out Rickie Fowler by 0.57 points, the closest margin in 10 years.
CARMEL, Ind. – Jason Day withdrew from the BMW Championship after eight holes on Sunday with back pain, making him ineligible for the Vardon Trophy.
Day has a history of back issues. The world’s No. 1 player barely made it through the opening round of the Dell Match Play, considered withdrawing and then went on to win.
He was 2 over for the round and in the middle of the pack when he withdrew.
Day was leading the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average going into the BMW Championship. While he was sure to be passed by Dustin Johnson, an incomplete round makes a player ineligible for the award.
His agent says Day was being cautious by withdrawing and hopes to be at the Tour Championship.
Cycling
MADRID – Movistar rider Nairo Quintana won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, adding the title to the 2014 Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour list of honors.
The Colombian climbing expert had cemented his commanding lead over nearest rival Chris Froome on Saturday’s decisive mountain stage.
Following custom, Froome did not challenge Quintana on the traditional ride into the Spanish capital on the 21st and final stage.
Quintana has twice finished runner-up to Froome at the Tour de France.
Froome finished second at the Vuelta for a third time, after also coming close in 2011 and 2014.
NFL
Opening day in the NFL saw Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters raise a black-gloved fist during the national anthem, a protest amplified later Sunday when four Miami Dolphins kneeled on the sideline with hands on their hearts as “The Star Spangled Banner” played in Seattle.
Peters’ gesture was the only one visible throughout the early games Sunday, as the anthems took on more significance because of the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks.
The four Miami players – Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Jelani Jenkins and Kenny Stills – registered their protest shortly before kickoff. All four stood at the conclusion of the anthem.
Several teams, including the Chiefs and Seahawks, saw their players link arms during the anthem. Peters, the 2015 defensive rookie of the year, was the last person in the Chiefs line and had his arm free to raise it.
Taped messages from Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were played at each stadium. Bush attended the Giants-Cowboys match in Arlington, Texas, while Vice President Joe Biden was in Philadelphia for Browns-Eagles.
New England’s Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty both held up their right arms. Teammate Danny Amendola was seen clutching the American flag unfurled on the field in Arizona.
Associated Press
