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• Streb ends title drought with play-off win at RSM Classic

  Robert Streb claimed his first PGA Tour title since 2014 at the RSM Classic, where he prevailed in a play-off against Kevin Kisner.

  Streb's sole win had come at the same event six years ago, but the American ended his drought after birdieing the second play-off hole in Georgia on Sunday.

  After trading pars on the first extra hole, Streb birdied the par-four 18th as countryman Kisner could only record a par at the Sea Island Golf Club.

  Streb became the first two-time winner of the RSM Classic, where he is the fifth consecutive 36-hole leader/co-leader to reign supreme at the tournament.

  The 33-year-old is also the first player to capture his first two Tour victories at the same event since Daniel Berger (2016-17 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic).

  A play-off was needed after Streb (68) and Kisner (63) – both playing the Seaside course – finished 19 under through 72 holes, a stroke ahead of Cameron Tringale (62).

  Streb had carried a record-equalling three-shot lead into the final round, but he was caught by the rallying Kisner, who was flawless with seven birdies and no bogeys to mark his lowest final-round score since 2016.

  Bernd Wiesberger (63) and Andrew Landry (64) finished tied for fourth at 17 under, a stroke better off than Harris English (62), Camilo Villegas (66), Kyle Stanley (66) and Zach Johnson (68), while former world number one Jason Day (65) earned a share of 12th position – five shots behind the top two.

• Jamaica's Olympic hopefuls welcome financial support from JOA

  Olympic hopefuls for the Tokyo Olympic Games have expressed delight about an expedited JMD$40 million injection by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) under its ‘Olympic Invest’ programme, to fund their preparation and qualification.

  Among them was 2016 Olympian Yona Knight-Wisdom, who underlined the impact on preparation created by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

  “2020 has, of course, been difficult for everybody, but particularly for athletes in so many ways - spending so much time away from normal training, losing the chance to earn prize money from competitions and also the exposure that big events can bring. So it’s great to finally be back in full-time training, preparing for whatever 2021 brings,” said the diver based in the United Kingdom.

  “But to have the financial backing of the JOA will help to give me that extra bit of motivation to work hard every day and be ready to compete to my highest level when the time comes,” the 25-year-old added.

  Kinght-Wisdom created history in becoming the first athlete to represent Jamaica in Olympic diving competition at the 2016 Rio Games. He explained that additional JOA funding will allow him to focus unilaterally on competition.

  “This investment will allow for me to get more physiotherapy to help look after my body, as well as to help pay for day-to-day training expenses such as travel, which means I can focus on the important things,” he said.

  “Hopefully this support will allow all of us to represent Jamaica to our highest level in Tokyo, because I believe a successful Olympics will bring joy and lift the spirits of the island as we come out of this terrible pandemic.”

  Tafari Whitter of Skateboarding Jamaica Limited, who is hoping to become the nation’s first Olympic skateboarder believes the funds being made available will ease difficulties created by COVID-19.

  “I am very proud of the JOA family on the fast track of 40 million dollars for athletes’ preparation, due to COVID making things hard for most of us,” said Whitter.

  “The JOA family managed to still keep things under control throughout these rough times and that is why I am so thankful and grateful for the opportunity of being part of history. Love you Jamaica. Let’s go to Tokyo. I am so, so proud of the JOA family.”

  Martial artist Alton Brown has his sights firmly set on Olympic competition in karate. He is the number-one ranked male karate athlete within the Caribbean and number two in his division across Pan America and number 22 in the world.

  “I have my eyes firmly set on two objectives; qualification and medal success at the Tokyo Games and legacy within Jamaica Karate following the Games. This additional funding from the JOA will have a vital impact on my ability to continue to pursue and successfully reach those goals,” Brown said.

  “The movement towards qualification at these Games has been four years in the making and would not be possible without the JOA’s support at key moments throughout this journey. In addition, the efforts of the Jamaica Karate Federation, under the leadership of Tony Robinson, have been instrumental in getting us to this moment.”

  Brown explained that the rigors of qualification demands monetary support.

  “Since 2018, the financial burden to the athlete of participating in the karate qualification process for Tokyo has been unprecedented, with almost 20 events taking place across five continents,” he shared.

  “We have adapted well to the COVID-19 Pandemic, utilizing relationships we hold with national teams across the Caribbean and Europe to continue development. This funding will not only allow us to be present at the final qualification events from February 2021, but also maximize the relationships we hold with other national teams, to ensure vital partner training opportunities necessary to continue to produce world-class results.

  “The world is taking note of Jamaica Karate and this additional funding will allow us to finish the race and make Jamaica proud,” said Brown.

   

• Hansen holds his nerve to seal maiden triumph at Joburg Open

  Joachim B. Hansen produced a blemish-free final round of 67 to claim his maiden European Tour title at the Joburg Open.

  Having ended Saturday trailing leader Wilco Nienaber by one shot, Hansen held his nerve over the closing holes to triumph for the first time at the 146th attempt.

  Nienaber led by as many as three shots by the turn at Randpark Golf Club, only to see his advantage whittled away.

  Hansen birdied three of his first five holes on the back nine before a succession of pars proved enough, aided by the leader finishing with back-to-back bogeys.

  The Dane was understandably emotional after holing the winning putt, as he ended up on 19 under for the week.

  "I putted really well, almost haven't missed a putt inside six feet and holed a lot of long ones as well," Hansen – who won two tournaments on the European Challenge Tour in 2018 - said.

  Nienaber finished alone in second, two shots back of the new champion but one clear of fellow South African Shaun Norris.

  It was an eventful final day for the overnight leader, as he came close to holing a clever long-distance putt at the 15th that saw the ball sent into the first cut off the green.

  He also got a kind break on the 17th when he somehow avoided his ball rolling into the water hazard, though he still went on to record a bogey at the hole.