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HOYLAKE, England -- Jiyai Shin avoided mistakes in miserable weather conditions Sunday to cruise to a record nine-stroke victory in the Womens British Open. Wayne Simmonds Jersey . In the 36-hole finish Sunday in the wind-delayed tournament, Shin took a three-shot lead into the final round after shooting a 1-under 71 in the morning. She stayed calm while strong wind and heavy showers sent scores soaring at Royal Liverpool in the afternoon, closing with a 73 to finish at 9-under 279. "It was a long, very, very tough day out there," Shin said. "But I kept my focus and concentrated on every shot, and when I made the winning putt, it was great. The 24-year-old South Korean player won the major championship for the second time in five years and also won for the second time in seven days on the LPGA Tour. Last Monday morning in Virginia, she finished off Paula Creamer on the ninth hole of a playoff in the Kingsmill Championship. "When I won at Sunningdale, it was a totally different kind of course, but I finally think Ive got the right tempo with my swing for links golf," Shin said. The 10-time LPGA Tour winner entered the day with a five-stroke lead after shooting a 64 -- the lowest competitive round ever at Hoylake -- on Saturday. She broke the record for margin of victory of five set by Karen Stupples in 2004 at Sunningdale. "My goal was 1-under par every single day. So my goal was 4 under. I think it was enough score," Shin said. "So, Im really surprised even from yesterday and then also today, I hit even par with 36 holes with this weather, so Im really surprised and inspired by myself. Because really tough course here, so when I finished it today, Im just like, Wow, I can play good score any, any other course, Im pretty sure of that." Shin completed an Asian sweep of the four majors. South Koreas Sun Young Yoo won the Kraft Nabisco, Chinas Shanshan Feng took the LPGA Championship, and South Koreas Na Yeon Choi won the U.S. Womens Open. Asian players have won nine of the last 12 majors. Shin missed the LPGA Championship and U.S. Womens Open after having surgery on her left wrist. "I think so many Asia players are playing at the moment on the LPGA Tour, so it makes a lot of chance to win," Shin said. "Especially, I dont know I dont know how can I say, I didnt play last two major tournaments, but I played in Nabisco and here. Well, I work so hard, I guess thats why I get this trophy, but, I dont know, I know all the other players doing their best and they work hard, too. So it makes it just happen." Shin is 2-for-2 working with new caddie Florian Rodriguez. "Im happy with my new work with my new caddie because he make me feel relaxed," Shin said. "Actually, hes one year younger than me, but he like tried to be relaxed on the golf course and I really appreciate my caddie." South Koreas Inbee Park was second, shooting 72-76. Creamer shot 72-72 to finish third at 1 over. "I feel very close," said Creamer, winless since 2010. "I hit the ball great. I cannot take away from my ball striking. That was definitely not the issue. It was my putting for sure. And a little bit speed related in some aspects, Im going to take a couple weeks off and try and refresh. But I have to continue moving forward with everything that Im doing because like I said, I feel really good about where Im at. Its just a couple things here and there." Japans Mika Miyazato was fourth at 2 over after rounds of 72 and 77. Australias Karrie Webb, a three-time winner in the event, pulled within three shots with a 68 in the morning, but finished with an 82 to tie for fifth with South Koreas Se Yeon Ryu -- 12 shots back. Ryu shot 71-76. Play was abandoned Friday because of high wind, forcing the 36-hole finale Sunday. Play was suspended for a few minutes during the fourth round as the rain and wind pelted the course, but organizers decided to play on. "It was like we were standing under a shower," Creamer said. "Thats the best way I can describe it. It was hard, my goodness gracious. Ive always said Solheim in Sweden was one of the toughest conditions Ive ever played in. I think this tops that, for sure." Shin opened her final round with a triple bogey, but she came back with birdies at the sixth and seventh before dropping another stroke at the eighth. She picked up three more birdies on the way along with two bogeys, staying in control of her game while Webb faded. Park struggled in the final round and reached the turn at 4 over, then dropped two more strokes on the back nine before making birdies on the 16th and 18th to take finish second. Creamer and American teenager Lexi Thompson were the only two players to shoot par in the afternoon, although Thompson was already out of contention and finished in a tie for 17th. She shot 76-72. Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old amateur coming off a victory three weeks ago in the Canadian Womens Open, also tied for 17th at 9 over -- shooting 76-78. "I got leading amateur and thats what I wanted after yesterday," Ko said. "I guess I have to be happy about that, and this is my first experience at the British Open and I did much better than the U.S. Open. So, I cant say it was a bad day. I had lots of fun playing." The South Korean-born New Zealander, the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, won the New South Wales Open in Australia in January and took the U.S. Womens Amateur last month. Yani Tseng, the 2010 and 2011 winner, shot 76-79 to tie for 26th at 11 over. Kimmo Timonen Jersey . Philadelphia has won four straight and 10 of its past 12 versus Toronto, taking the first two encounters this season at home before a 1-0 shootout win at the Air Canada Centre on March 10. Authentic Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys . The Clippers, co-owners of the NBAs best record and on a roll at home. http://www.nhlflyersteamshop.com/maxime-talbot-jersey/ . The Cardinals announced Tuesday that Kolb has rib cartilage damage and will be sidelined for "an unspecified period of time. Jaromir Jagr Authentic Jersey . -- For years, the San Jose Sharks have entered the post-season as one of the favourites to win the Stanley Cup, only to fall short somewhere along the line. Ilya Bryzgalov Jersey . The Sweden international was sent off after a poor challenge on St Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, and has been handed his punishment by the Professional Football Leagues disciplinary commission.SAN FRANCISCO -- Frank Gore has never reached the post-season. Same goes for Alex Smith and Patrick Willis. Vernon Davis, too. Some of San Franciscos biggest stars are on the cusp of getting there at last. A win Sunday against St. Louis -- or losses by Seattle and Arizona -- would wrap up the Niners first NFC West crown and playoff berth since 2002. Needless to say, this is one week when the word playoffs is not off limits as a talking point for coach Jim Harbaughs focused bunch. And in this case, it doesnt go against Harbaughs credo regarding looking too far ahead. "Absolutely, were talking about it," Smith said. "For anyone whos only been here, obviously this is new territory for us," the quarterback said. "Something weve talked about every year and now all of a sudden to have it in our hands and the chance to clinch, its great. No question, this is what you work so hard for. Weve put ourselves in a good situation and now we just need to go out on Sunday and finish it." Harbaugh is using it as motivation for the first-place Niners (9-2), who were eager to return to work after a 16-6 Thanksgiving night loss at Baltimore to Harbaughs big brother, John. "Its my seventh year here. To be in a position like this is great," Gore said. Beating the Rams will lock up the spot San Francisco has known it will have for weeks. The 49ers are playing for post-season positioning, too. If they stay on task over the seasons final month, San Francisco will secure a first-round bye. "Whenever you have the opportunity to close something out, youve got to do it as soon as possible," said centre Jonathan Goodwin, who won a ring with the Saints two years ago. "As long as theres still hope for other teams, they still have a chance. Its important to close things out right away. You never know what can happen in this league. As soon as you get the opportunity to finish something, you need to." Gore could be headed for a double dose of celebration Sunday. The two-time Pro Bowl running back has 7,323 career yards rushing and needs only 22 to pass the late Hall of Famer Joe Perry (7,344) for most in franchise history. Harbaugh is all for his players gearing up for the Rams (2-9) by thinking about their next step: playoffs in January. Only long-snapper Brian Jennings was part of the last 49ers post-season team in 2002. "Sure, not just allow it but encourage it. How do you know where youre going to get to if you dont know what the goal is or where you stand?" Harbaugh said. Before the season, St. Louis was widely considered a contender to win a division known as the NFC Worst last year -- when Seattle won at 7-9, the first division winner with a losing record. Quarterback Sam Bradford has taken his lumps. He has fumbled 10 times and lost a league-leading seven, five on sacks. "Ive never had a season like this before where things dont go your way so many weeks in a row," Bradford said. "Butt no matter what happens, especially with the quarterback position, you cant lose confidence. Jaromir Jagr Jersey. I still have all the confidence in the world in myself and my teammates. Every week when we install the game plan on Tuesday night and Im with (offensive co-ordinator) Josh (McDaniels), I look at it and Im like, Gosh weve got some good stuff and were going to tear it up this week." St. Louis will have two shots at playing spoiler against San Francisco: The teams place twice over the final five games, including in the season finale Jan. 1 at the Edward Jones Dome. Coach Steve Spagnuolo isnt about to go back and point to every single thing that has gone wrong for his Rams, from all the injuries to missed chances and mistakes. He would rather not see the 49ers win the division this week. Its that simple. No analysis needed at this stage. "Im not a crystal ball guy. I know we have a game against the 49ers this weekend. The rest of it Im not wrapping myself in," Spagnuolo said. "Were just trying to find a way to win a football game." The 49ers have had ample prep time for the Rams. Players had last weekend off after a quick turnaround from a win against Arizona on Nov. 20 to flying cross-country to face the Ravens four days later. Harbaugh would join George Seifert (1989) and Steve Mariucci (1997) as the only rookie head coaches in franchise history to win the NFC West in their first year. While many expected Harbaughs influence to revitalize the franchise, San Francisco has exceeded expectations. Spagnuolo knows Harbaugh has been the difference for a team that is unbeaten in its last nine home games against division opponents. "A lot of the personnels the same. I know I counted up a lot of guys, same guys we played in the second-to-the-last game of the season last year, and yet I think theyve been very, very productive," Spagnuolo said. "They find ways to control the football. Weve got a lot of respect for them." Aside from finally getting back to the playoffs, that 25-17 loss at St. Louis in Week 16 last year is still plenty fresh. It was after that defeat when the 49ers fired Mike Singletary. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula took over as interim coach for the final game -- a win against the Seahawks -- and then Harbaugh came aboard in early January in a high-profile hiring from nearby Stanford. Smith, sacked nine times against the Ravens, didnt start that must-win game with the Rams last Dec. 26 as Singletary went with now-departed Troy Smith. Considering the roll these Niners are on, that all seems so long ago. Yet linebacker Parys Haralson can find some parallels when it comes to bouncing back. "You never want to lose but it also makes you tighten out on things you probably got lazy on, or see some things," he said. "Any time after a loss you dont like that feeling, so youre eager to go into the next week and try to improve and try to get a win. Thats what I think this team will do." ' ' '
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