McIlroy wins European Tour player for 3rd time

Rory McIlroy was voted the European Tour’s player of the year for 2015, winning the award for the third time in the past four seasons.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman successfully defended the Race to Dubai title after winning the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai last month. He had two other victories, at the Dubai Desert Classic and the WGC-Cadillac Match Play.

McIlroy said he feels “very proud to have won this prestigious award for the third time.”

The former top-ranked McIlroy was granted special dispensation to play the European Tour’s Final Series. He had not fulfilled the standard membership criteria because of an ankle injury sustained midway through the year.

MLB

Cubs announce deal with free agent Heyward

The Chicago Cubs officially announced the signing of prized free agent outfielder Jason Heyward on Tuesday, adding a three-time Gold Glove winner in their continuing makeover to build a World Series contender.

The Cubs were scheduled to introduce Heyward at Spiaggia Restaurant, one of President Barack Obama’s favorites, after agreeing to a $184 million, eight-year contract last week. The signing of Heyward is the latest in a series of big moves as they try to bring home the franchise’s first championship since 1908.

Chicago won 97 games last season and knocked out NL Central rivals Pittsburgh and St. Louis before getting swept by the New York Mets in the NLCS.

OLYMPICS

Paris is Rome’s main rival for the 2024 Games

Italian Premier Matteo Renzi said Paris is Rome’s main rival for the 2024 Olympics.

As well as Paris, Rome is competing against Los Angeles and Budapest, Hungary. The IOC will select the host city in September 2017.

Renzi said on Tuesday “we know, the rival is Paris, but I believe in us.”

Rome is trying to bring the Olympics back to the Italian capital for the first time since 1960.

The German port city of Hamburg withdrew its 2024 bid last month after it was defeated in a referendum. Boston dropped out in August amid a lack of public and political support, and was replaced by Los Angeles.

SWIMMING

Ipsen-Dorman, Parratto-Cozad win diving titles

Kristian Ipsen and Samuel Dorman won the men’s 3-meter synchronized springboard national title on Tuesday at USA Diving’s Winter National Championships.

Ipsen and Troy Dumais, who were the 2012 Olympic bronze medalists in the event, led after the preliminaries earlier but came up just short in the finals on a forward 2 ½ somersault, 2 twists pike. Ipsen and Dorman finished with a cumulative score of 822.99; Ipsen and Dumais had 819.81, with their final round score of 74.46 leaving them short of a national title.

SOCCER

FIFA stops Gerrard, Pirlo from playing in Kuwait

FIFA stopped Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez from playing in a friendly in Kuwait because of the Gulf nation’s ban from international soccer.

Kuwait was suspended by FIFA in October because of government interference. The ban from international competitions extends to active players registered with clubs from taking part in the Football Champions Tour friendly in Kuwait on Friday against a local all-star team. Organizers say Pirlo and Gerrard, who play in Major League Soccer, as well as Qatar-based Xavi are no longer able to participate.

Associated Press