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Dustin Johnson makes eagle putt to win LIV Boston event in playoff | CBC Sports

Dustin Johnson makes eagle putt to win LIV Boston event in playoff | CBC Sports

Dustin Johnson gave LIV Golf its first big moment Sunday when he made a 35-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the LIV Golf Invitational-Boston for his first victory in 19 months.

Johnson’s putt on the par-5 18th was going so fast it might have rolled some 6 feet past the hole. But it hit the back of the cup and dropped down near the front of the cup to beat Joaquin Niemann and Anirban Lahiri.

He raised his arm and dropped it for a slow-motion uppercut, instead slapping hands with Austin Johnson, his brother and caddie. The win was worth $4 million US for Johnson. With his team winning again, he now has made $9,962,500 in four events.

“It was going a little fast, but it was a good line,” Johnson said with a big smile. “I got some unlucky breaks (on No. 18) the first time around. It owed me one and I got it.”

The first playoff in four LIV Golf events capped an otherwise sloppy finish by so many others who had a chance.

Johnson, who closed with a 5-under 65, needed a birdie on the par-5 18th. His drive bounced into the right rough, his iron to lay up went into the trees well to the left and he had to scramble for par to join Lahiri (64) and Niemann (66) at 15-under 265.

Lahiri hit a fairway metal to 5 feet on the 18th in regulation, and his eagle putt that would have won it rolled around the right edge of the cup.

Lee Westwood finished one shot out of a playoff after a 62 that included bogeys on two of his last three holes. He was poised to win when he bounced back from a bogey on No. 1 in the shotgun start with a short birdie on the par-3 second.

He finished on No. 3, a 352-yard hole and great birdie opportunity. Westwood hit a lob wedge that was so fat it came up some 40 feet short of the pin and into a bunker. He blasted out weakly and missed the 18-foot par putt.

“The lob wedge was a little fat,” Westwood said. “Make 3 and I win the tournament and I make 5. It’s a sickening way to finish.”

British Open champion Cameron Smith, among six players who recently signed with the Saudi-funded league, had a 63. He also was tied for the lead until hitting his tee shot into the trees on No. 1, his 17th hole, and having to pitch out sideways. He made bogey.

WATCH | How Saudi Arabia is using LIV Golf to Sportswash its global image:

How Saudi Arabia is using LIV Golf to Sportswash its global image

Dave Zirin joins host Morgan Campbell, to discuss the motivations of Saudi Arabia in creating and funding the LIV Golf tour.

Smith tied for fourth with Westwood. Each made just over $1 million.

Johnson had not won since the Saudi International on Feb. 7, 2021, when it was part of the European tour schedule. The player who has been No. 1 longer than anyone since Tiger Woods slipped out of the top 15 in the world when he signed with LIV Golf.

He was part of the rival league from the start in early June outside London, and he has finished in the top 10 in all of them.

“I’ve had a chance to win every one,” he said. “That’s three in a row for the team, and for me to get my first, I’m feeling good.”

He walked off the 18th green holding a phone in a video call to his two sons.

Lahiri and Niemann each made just over $1.8 million for losing in the playoff. They were among six players who signed with LIV Golf after the PGA Tour season end.

The next LIV Golf Invitational series is in two weeks in the Chicago suburbs at Rich Harvest Farms, best known for hosting the Solheim Cup in 2009.

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‘Epicentre of energy’: Ice District plaza ready to host major events, playoff parties

'Epicentre of energy': Ice District plaza ready to host major events, playoff parties

Ice District is finally ready to host its first major event, six years after promotional videos bragged about a public plaza featuring people, patios and playoffs.

Big screens, a stage and a mini-rink were all being erected in the plaza Wednesday, as Rogers Hometown Hockey heads to Edmonton this weekend.

“We talked about it for a long time, that this is the epicentre of energy, and so now it’s our job to bring it to life,” said Tim Shipton of Oilers Entertainment Group.

With the Oilers holding down a playoff spot Wednesday, excitement is also building for what could happen if they make it.

“We’re going to program this thing to the hilt. We want this to be the place that people come before games, tailgating. There will be family activities, really bring it to life,” he said.

The plaza is ready to start hosting, but construction in Ice District is far from over.

New restaurants, patios and stores still need to be added and another 16 storey office tower is planned, all with a completion target of 2025.

Even an early version of the plaza being complete is music to the ears of nearby entrepreneurs, the president of the Downtown Business Association said.

“The economic benefit of having that arena in our downtown, especially in the scenario where we’re heading into maybe a playoff run, it is massive,” said Puneeta McBryan.

Two years of pandemic shutdowns, declining traffic and a rise in public disorder have been tough on businesses in the core, she said.

“I think a lot of that negativity that people might be feeling about downtown really does fall away once, all of a sudden, your streets and your businesses are full of people again,” McBryan predicted

Ice District plaza on March 30, 2022. (Jeremy Thompson/CTV News Edmonton)

Making downtown a more lively and fun place to be was central to the district’s vision all along, and a key element of the sales job that saw millions of public dollars spent to build Rogers Place.

The Oilers also spent hundreds of millions rebuilding the area, so team officials and local business owners are hoping those investments soon pay off for everyone.

“Downtown needs to get its mojo back, it needs to get its energy back and Ice District’s going to be a big part of that,” Shipton said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson

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Weekend events guide

Weekend events guide

Friday, March 11

• Penticton’s Community Outdoor Rink is still open for free skating, located behind Penticton City Hall and beside Gyro Park, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily

• 96th annual Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival resumes, Pianoforte at Penticton Lakeside Resort, for full of events: pkmf.org

• Ukranian Fundraising Barbecue at the Barking Parrot at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, 5-7 p.m., all money going directly to front lines for military/humanitarian aid, by donation, ages 19 and over

• KIJHL junior hockey playoffs, Osoyoos Coyotes at Summerland Steam, 7:30 p.m. at the Summerland Arena, sixth game in best-of-seven division final

• Comedian Tim Nutt in concert at the Cleland Theatre, 7 p.m., tickets are $33.75, purchase online at: trainwreckcomedy.com

• Andrea Furlan fundraiser at Firehall Brewery in Oliver, open mic from 5-6:30 p.m., Rebel Luv performs, 7-9 p.m.

• Discovery House presents “Soup is Good Food,” delivery or pickup, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., orders must be placed in advance online at: discoveryhouserecovery.com/food or by phone at: 250-488-7736

• Jam Night at the Penticton Elks Lodge No. 51, 6:30 p.m., mixed darts, 6:30 p.m.

• Fish and chips, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Karaoke with your host “Candie” with this week’s “featured singer’ Jason Mallot at Royal Canadian Legion , 7:30 p.m.-close

• Penticton Seniors Drop-In Centre, open 8-ball pool tournament, 9 a.m.; Mah Jong Int., 1 p.m.

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, Friday night dinner, 5-7 p.m.

• Penticton & District Community Arts Council presents “Aging Art and the Modern Elder” by the North Okanagan Chapter of Federation of Canadian Artists at The Leir House, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You may also view it online at: pentictonartscouncil.com

• “It’s a Colourful World,” featuring the works of Jenny Long at Summerland Community Arts Council, 95-25 Wharton Street in Summerland, weekdays 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., call 250-494-4494

• Now on display at the Penticton Museum: “Our Living Languages: First Peoples’ Voices in B.C.” and “Penticton’s Built Heritage,” Tuesdays- Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Cascades Casino Penticton open, 10 a.m. – midnight, Sundays through Thursdays; 10 a.m. – 2 a.m., Fridas and Saturdays

• Opening tonight at Landmark Cinemas 7: “Ella and the Little Sorcerer” (G, 91 minutes); “Cyrano” (Peter Dinklage, PG, 124 minutes); Held over: “The Batman” (PG, 176 minutes); “Dog,” (PG, 101 minutes); “Death on the Nile” (Pg, 124 minutes); “Uncharted,” (PG, 116 minutes); “Spiderman: No Way Home,” (PG, 150 minutes); For showtimes and tickets: landmarkcinemas.com/penticton

• Now playing at the Oliver Theatre: “Dog,” (PG, 101 minutes), Friday through Sunday. For list of showtimes visit: olivertheatre.ca

Saturday, March 12

• Special presentations at Landmark Cinemas 7: Live from the Met Opera, “Ariadne auf Naxos,” 9:55 a.m.; “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live,” 1:30 and 5:30 p.m.

• 96th annual Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival, Pianoforte at Penticton Lakeside Resort, for schedule: pkmf.org

• Mandy Cole (rock), live in concert, Highway 97 Brewery, 200 Ellis Street, 6 p.m., no cover charge

• Penticton Arts Council presents Pet Portraits with Mary Kate Woodward at The Leir House, noon-4 p.m. contact: 250-492-7997

• Charity bottle drive, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at IGA in Summerland and Penticton in support of C-DART animal organization, BC-SPCA and Penticton Regional Hospital

• Penticton Elks Lodge meat draw, 4 p.m., BBQ chicken and ribs, 5:30 p.m., music to follow at 6 p.m. with Roland Allen (classic rock)

• Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, meat draw, 2 p.m.

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, burgers and fries, noon-4 p.m.

• Live music at Slackwater Brewing Co, 218 Martin Street, Tristan Telle, 6 p.m.

• KIJHL jr. hockey playoffs, Summerland Steam at Osoyoos Coyotes, 7:35 p.m. at The Sun Bowl in Osoyoos, Game 7 in best-of-seven division final (if necessary)

Sunday, March 13

• 96th annual Penticton Kiwanis Music Festival, Pianoforte at Penticton Lakeside Resort, for schedule: pkmf.org

• Anything You Can Do Comedy tour featuring headliner Erica Sigurdso with special guests Katie-Ellen Humphries and Yumi Nagashima, 7:30 p.m. at Venables Theatre in Oliver, $30, for tickets: venablestheatre.ca,

• Joe Nolan, Start The Car Tour at Barley Mill Brew Pub, $5 cover

• Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 40, meat draw, 2 p.m., kitchen is open for lunch

• Fraternal Order of Eagles, Sunday afternoon meat draw, 4 p.m.

• Penticton Elks Lodge breakfast, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., meat draw and dog races, 2 p.m.

• Hot rockin’ bingo at the Barley Mill Brew Pub, 6:30-9 p.m.; charity meat draw supporting Pathways Addictions Centre, multiple chances to win, 1:30-3 p.m.

• Live music at the Cannery Brewing Co., featuring Patrick Gilmour, 5-7 p.m.

• Hoodoo Adventures open daily: bikes, kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, climbing gym, visit: hoodooadventures.ca

• Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, Selfie Wall, located in the food court, take a selfie and enter to win one of three $100 gift cards, visit: cherrylane.ca/selfiecontest, promotion runs through March 31

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Publicize your event. Email submissions for our calendar to: editor@pentictonherald.ca