MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Brooks Koepka knows everyone wanted to see a tight final-round duel with Rory McIlroy.

"That would have been incredible for the fans, for everybody that showed up, and I'm sure that's what everybody wanted," Koepka said.

Too bad Koepka drained all the drama Sunday on the way to his first World Golf Championships title.

Koepka had three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine and cruised to a three-stroke victory in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Playing with McIlroy in their first final-group pairing, the top-ranked Koepka closed with a bogey-free 5-under 65 at TPC Southwind for his seventh PGA Tour title. He finished at 16-under 264.

McIlroy followed his third-round 62 with a 71 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under. McIlroy declined to talk to reporters after the round.

"Rory didn't play the way he wanted to today, but still it's so much fun to watch him play," Koepka said. "You kind of get glued watching him hit balls. I mean, it's mesmerizing watching him hit. You know it's always nice to squeak out a victory over probably the best player right now."

Webb Simpson had a 64 to finish second. Marc Leishman (67) was third, four strokes back. Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (69) joined McIlroy at 11 under.

Koepka wrapped up the regular-season points title a week early and claimed a $2 million bonus from the Wyndham Rewards program. He is assured of going into the FedEx Cup playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

Koepka became the sixth player to win a major championship and a World Golf Championship in the same year. He won the PGA Championship for the second consecutive year in May.

After tapping in for par on No. 18, Koepka celebrated with a little fist pump before hugging McIlroy.

Koepka had been so close in recent weeks, coming in second at the U.S. Open in June and tying for fourth last week at The Open. He also had a pair of top-10 finishes in this event when it was held at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, and he also won for the first time at the TPC Southwind, where he tied for third in 2015 and tied for second in 2016 when this course hosted the former St. Jude Classic.

Koepka said he feels he knows this course better than any other on tour, and finally winning here and a WGC title, too, is special.

"It's a thinker's golf course," Koepka said. "I probably don't get enough thought process going through my mind sometimes, just get up and hit it. It gets very routine. A lot of times it's drivers, but out here you've really got to position yourself off the tee depending on where the pin is."

Now Koepka has come from behind in three of his seven victories, though this time teeing off only a stroke off the lead. When they teed off, Koepka was among 10 players within four strokes of leader McIlroy.

After a couple of pars, Koepka took control.

Koepka rolled in a 9-footer for birdie and a share of the lead on the par-5 third he bogeyed in each of the first two rounds for a nice confidence boost. McIlroy missed his own 4-foot birdie chance a couple inches left after chipping from behind a green-side bunker.

Then Koepka hit his second shot on the par-4 fifth from 185 yards to 5 feet for his second birdie and the outright lead, while McIlroy's second was on the left fringe with his attempt 5 feet short on yet another par. Koepka birdied his second straight on the par-4 sixth, rolling in a 20-footer for a two-stroke lead .

Koepka padded that lead after the turn, hitting his second from 143 to 8 feet on the par-4 10th. Koepka rolled in the birdie putt to go to 15 under with a three-stroke lead, making the only question left whether anyone could get close.

He created the last of the drama by scrambling for par on the next two holes. He put his second into the intermediate rough on the edge of the green on No. 15, forcing him to hole a 9-footer, with a poor chip on the par-5 16th leading to another par. But he clinched the victory with a 12-footer on No. 17.

McIlroy had won three of his previous four when shooting at least a 62 in an event. The Northern Irishman who missed the cut at The Open by a stroke last weekend just couldn't keep up with Koepka.

Simpson eagled No. 3 and added a birdie on No. 6. Then he added four birdies on the back nine and tied the best round of the day with his best round since winning the 2018 Players Championship.

"Knowing that Brooks Koepka and Rory are out in front, I knew it needed to be a low round," Simpson said. "I didn't have a number in mind. ... Very happy with how the day went."

Divots: Koepka, who won the CJ Cup in South Korea last October, also is the first on tour with three wins this season. ... Justin Thomas, who won this event in Ohio last year, tied for 12th. Dustin Johnson, who won the FedEx St. Jude Classic here last year, tied for 20th.

Olympic champion storms to a time of 52.20 at USA Champs to improve on the 52.34 run by Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003

Dalilah Muhammad stormed into the history books on Sunday as she clocked an incredible time of 52.20 to break the world 400m hurdles record at the USA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Running in lane four on a wet track, and after starting with the slowest reaction time (0.287), the Olympic champion powered away and had a clear lead off the final bend as world under-20 record-holder Sydney McLaughlin, Olympic bronze medallist Ashley Spencer and 2015 world silver medallist Shamier Little battled behind her.

But Muhammad did not falter and went on to record a mark which improves by 0.14 the previous record run by Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003.

WORLD RECORD!
Dalilah Muhammad wins the @usatf Championships 400m hurdles in 52.20! ? Improving on the 52.34 run by Yuliya Pechonkina in 2003! Sydney McLaughlin second in 52.88 #ToyotaUSATFOutdoor pic.twitter.com/uib6XQxjWl

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) July 29, 2019

McLaughlin came through to secure second in 52.88, while Spencer was third in a PB-equalling 53.11 and Little fourth in 53.91.

Before this year, Muhammad’s PB for the 400m flat had been 52.63 but she proved her fine form with a time of 50.60 in Poland in June and her new hurdles time – which moves her up from sixth with 52.64 on the world all-time list – is faster than many 400m runners can manage, without 10 hurdles on the track.

“I wanted it so bad,” Muhammad told NBC after the race. “I knew I had to go out there and prove myself.”

Dalilah Muhammad breaks the 400m hurdles world record. pic.twitter.com/vldGRMkVAY

— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 29, 2019

The final day of USA Championships action also saw Donavan Brazier win the men’s 800m title in 1:45.62 from Clayton Murphy’s 1:46.01, while defending world champion Emma Coburn claimed her eighth US steeplechase title, clocking 9:25.63 ahead of Courtney Frerichs with 9:26.61.

World indoor champion Sandi Morris won the pole vault with a season’s best clearance of 4.85m as Katie Nageotte was second with 4.80m and 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr third with 4.70m.

Lopez Lomong completed a 5000m and 10,000m double, running 13:25.53 ahead of Paul Chelimo’s 13:25.80 to win the men’s 5000m after his 10,000m victory on Friday, while Shelby Houlihan also secured two titles as she won the women’s 5000m in 15:15.50 to add to her 1500m title from Saturday.

World medallist Ajeé Wilson took the 800m title in 1:57.72, while Daniel Roberts won the 110m hurdles in 13.23 ahead of Grant Holloway’s 13.36.

More to follow…

Coverage of day one and day two action can be found here, while a day three report is here and results are here.

American teenage sensation Coco Gauff continued her stunning run by easing into the Washington Open main draw with a dominant win in final qualifying.

Gauff, 15, needed only an hour and five minutes to beat Japan's Hiroko Kuwata in a 6-1 6-2 win.

It will be her third WTA main draw appearance after Miami and Wimbledon.

After her SW19 exploits, where she beat Venus Williams on her way to the last 16, Gauff's qualifier was watched by a near sell-out crowd in the US capital.

And she received a standing ovation after clinching victory with a wonderful cross-court winner against 28-year-old Kuwata.

Now ranked 143rd in the world after her success at the All England Club, Gauff was unsure whether she would even get into Washington qualifying because she had to use her pre-Wimbledon ranking of 313th to gain entry.

The Washington Open, a combined WTA and ATP event, is one of the key warm-events on the American hard-court swing which culminates in next month's US Open.

Gauff was the youngest woman to reach the second week of Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati in 1991.

Lyon clinched the 2019 Emirates Cup with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal thanks to two goals from Moussa Dembele, with Gunners' striker Alexandre Lacazette forced to hobble off injured.

Lacazette required treatment on his ankle early on and had to come off after just 12 minutes, to be replaced by the impressive Reiss Nelson. He was later pictured in a protective boot after the match, but manager Unai Emery played down concerns.

Not good news for #AFC pic.twitter.com/PghKS4urI8

— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) July 28, 2019

"We are thinking it's not serious," he said. "He [Lacazette] decided with a doctor and with me that it's better to not to take a further more risk. He tried to continue playing but it was better in preseason not to take a risk. The doctor said he is going to check tomorrow but he is thinking it is not serious. He has a sprained ankle."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave the Gunners the lead on 35 minutes when he bundled home Henrikh Mkhitaryan's cross after some good pressing from Emery's men.

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However, Lyon were level on 66 minutes when Dembele headed home Memphis Depay's cross.

Arsenal thought they had re-taken the lead when summer signing Gabriel Martinelli squeezed the ball home, but the Brazilian saw his effort ruled out for offside. Then Lyon broke down the other end and Dembele kept his cool to slot past Bernd Leno.

The defeat was Arsenal's first in preseason, having so far claimed victories over Colorado Rapids, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina and a draw against Real Madrid before succumbing on penalties.

They face Angers on Wednesday, and play Barcelona on Sunday in their final friendly, before starting their Premier League campaign at Newcastle.

Earlier in the day, Arsenal Women were beaten 1-0 by their Bayern Munich counterparts thanks to Melanie Leupolz's goal.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman has been traded to the New York Mets, a source confirmed to ESPN.

MLB.com was first to report the trade.

Sprinter claims 100m and 200m titles at a wet England and Inter-Counties Championships

Kimbely Baptiste was a double raining champion splashing through the puddles to record back-to-back sprint doubles at the UK Inter-Counties and England Athletics Senior Championships in Manchester, Trevor Baxter reports.

“I am not used to running in this weather,” smiled the Dubai-based, Crawley AC sprinter after her fourth successive 200m title.

“I only come back for the summer holidays so I am used to all the heat,” added the previous day’s winner of the 100m crown.

“On Thursday when it was really hot, I was like ‘bring it on for the weekend.’ But all we have had is rain, rain, rain.

“I know I didn’t look too excited when I crossed the line but I clapped afterwards,” grinned 2018 double winner Baptiste, clocking 23.84 to go with Saturday’s 100m in 11.90.

Despite the inclement Manchester weather, the two-day meeting, also featuring the Disability Championships, produced some notable performances and performers.

Going one better than Baptiste was Scott Lincoln, now a five-time English shot put winner – this time with a throw of 19.56m.

Brighton’s George Mills won the mile in 4:19.62, while Alicia Barrett claimed victory in the 100m hurdles in 13.44 and Jake Porter won the 110m hurdles in 14.01.

Trafford AC’s Naomi Ogbeta, third on the British all-time rankings, won the triple jump with 13.67m and Craig Murch threw a lifetime best to retain the hammer title with 72.33m, while Mancunians also had to watch a Liverpool win – Yasmin Liverpool in the 400m (53.30).

Sadam Koumi retained the 400m title in 46.21 ahead of Nick Baker with a 46.46 PB, while Joe Reid front ran his way to 800m gold in 1:49.26.

Jess Mayho improved her hammer PB to 65.18m to win ahead of Rachel Hunter with 64.34m and Sophie McKinna retained her shot put title with a throw of 17.74m, while Abigail Irozuru won the long jump, leaping 6.36m.

There were tears of disappointment too, notably for Jacqueline Fairchild over 800m. After four silver medals at 800m and 1500m, the Preston Harrier crossed the line in front only to be disqualified for running on a lane line.

To double the agony, club-mate Kirsty Fraser was upgraded to gold.

In the disability events, Eleanor Simpson established a road running 200m world record of 39.62. In the ambulant sprints, Ali Smith took the 100m and 200m titles.

See the August 1 edition of AW magazine for full coverage.

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Another race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Kyle Kirkwood resulted in another victory on Sunday.

The 20-year-old from Jupiter, Fla., doubled up on his performance for the Italian-owned RP Motorsport USA team by sweeping the weekend and scoring his fifth victory from the last six races in the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

Kirkwood now lies only 13 points behind Rasmus Lindh with five races remaining in the quest for a scholarship to facilitate the graduation next year to Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the top step on the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder system.

Juncos Racing teammates Sting Ray Robb and Lindh completed the podium, with Robb coming out on top to equal his career best finish.

“I’m not going to have much emotion until we come to the final checkers of the year; as soon as this one was done, my mind went to what’s next,” said a cool Kirkwood in victory lane. “I have done well here, but a lot of that is knowledge, since I’ve tested and raced here so much. It’s one of my favorite tracks – it’s very technical compared to some of the other racetracks and with the changing asphalt and changing conditions, the grip changes dramatically. Whenever I’ve come here, I’ve had a good car, and today was no different.

“Today wasn’t as easy as yesterday, because I roasted my front tires early in the race and had to nurse the Cooper tires through the middle part of the race. The caution actually helped me to cool my tires and get back into a groove,” Kirkwood added. “We’re here to win races, that’s why we’re here. We have five races to go and anything can happen.”

A mid-pack incident as the cars were bunched together prior to the green flag caused Canadian Antoine Comeau, making his Road to Indy debut this weekend with the new Turn 3 Motorsport team owned by Peter Dempsey, to suffer a broken front wing.

As a result, the start was waved off and title contender Danial Frost, who had qualified second, was judged guilty by the race stewards of failing to maintain a constant speed prior to the green flag. Frost took the restart for the 25-lap race from the back of the field.

Meanwhile, Kirkwood took off into the lead at the restart and controlled the proceedings, although Canadian Parker Thompson remained within a second and a half until another full-course caution was initiated after 19 laps due to a spin in turn nine by Moises de la Vara.

The final restart with three laps remaining saw Kirkwood once again confirm his superiority, pulling away to win by a comfortable 3.4783 seconds and securing yet another PFC Award for RP Motorsport USA as the winning team.

The battle behind saw Robb make a great jump when the green flag waved – enough to draw alongside Thompson on the run toward turn one.

Thompson attempted to brave it out on the high line but his resulting loss of momentum allowed Lindh also to sneak past into third. The trio took the checkered flag in that order, separated by just over a second.

Lindh also earned the Tilton Hard Charger Award, after moving his way from a disappointing sixth on the grid to third at the finish.

Guatemalan Ian Rodriguez secured another top-five finish for RP Motorsport USA, while the drive of the race was posted by Frost, who fought back from his penalty and was rewarded with a hard-earned sixth position ahead of teammate Nikita Lastochkin.