Sugar Grove, Ill. — The scoreboards around Rich Harvest Farms were awash in European blue and the holes beginning to dwindle.

Then one red point went up, and then another. Soon, one more. With chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” echoing throughout the back nine, the momentum at the Solheim Cup took a seismic shift.

Europe didn’t stand a chance.

“Every four minutes it seemed like you heard another roar, and based on the volume of it, you could tell it was an American,” Christina Kim said. “It starts off with one, and it was just contagious. You just get a little bit of that momentum, and you ride it out.”

Turning what had been a close contest into a rout, the Americans won their third straight Solheim Cup on Sunday with a 16-12 decision over Europe. When Morgan Pressel delivered the clinching point with her 3-and-2 victory over Anna Nordqvist, her teammates — sitting near the green in anticipation — leaped up, and the party was on.

Michelle Wie, whose 3-0-1 record was the best of any American this week, grabbed a U.S. flag and held it aloft to cries of “Wheee!” from the crowd.

That talent is what made the Americans heavy favorites coming into the week. They had some of the top players in the world, while four of Europe’s players were ranked 125th or lower. Annika Sorenstam, Europe’s anchor the last decade, is no longer playing. And the United States had won the last two Solheim Cups and was unbeaten on U.S. soil.

Golf

Sim wins Christmas

Overland Park — Michael Sim played his way onto the PGA Tour.

The Australian shot a 4-under 67 Sunday to win his third Nationwide Tour event this season, taking the Christmas in October Classic by two strokes and finishing at 264 on Sunday.

Chris Thompson, a Kansas University product, fired a 67 in the final round and completed the tournament at 275.

Moore prevails in playoff

Greensboro, N.C. — Ryan Moore won for the first time on the PGA Tour with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Kevin Stadler on Sunday at the Wyndham Championship.

Moore vaulted up the leaderboard with five consecutive birdies on the back nine.

Reid takes Tradition

Sunriver, Ore. — Mike Reid made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday to beat John Cook and win the Jeld-Wen Tradition for his second career major on the Champions Tour.

Reid also won the 2005 Senior PGA Championship.

Dyson claims KLM Open

Zandvoort, Netherlands — England’s Simon Dyson came from six shots back to win the KLM Open, beating Ireland’s Peter Lawrie and Sweden’s Peter Hedblom in a playoff Sunday.

After six birdies in his first 12 holes, Dyson matched a course record with a 7-under 63 and then birdied the first extra hole for his second title at the KLM Open.

NFL

Pats release TE DeVree

Foxborough, Mass. — The New England Patriots released second-year tight end Tyson DeVree on Sunday.

DeVree was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Colorado in 2008.

QB Palmer questionable

Cincinnati — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer did some light tossing Sunday, but did not practice with the team.

Palmer, who has a sprained left ankle, is questionable for Thursday’s preseason game against St. Louis.

Vick may play Thursday

Philadelphia — Michael Vick showed no signs of rust during the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice Sunday, throwing tight spirals with plenty of velocity.

Andy Reid probably will make a decision Tuesday on whether Vick will make his preseason debut Thursday against Jacksonville.

Track and field

U.S. earns 3 more golds

Berlin — Americans LaShawn Merritt, Kerron Clement, Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards each won a second title at the world championships in the 1,600-meter relays Sunday.

While the Jamaicans ruled the sprints, it was all U.S. in the longer relays, with the Americans winning by huge margins in both.

In the final medal standings, the United States had 10 golds and 22 overall, with Jamaica second with seven gold and 13 overall.

MLB

Harang out for season

Pittsburgh — Cincinnati Reds starter Aaron Harang is out for the rest of the season after an emergency appendectomy.

Harang woke Saturday morning in Pittsburgh with pain near his abdomen. He was examined later that afternoon and driven back to Cincinnati, where the surgery was performed at The Good Samaritan Hospital.

Royals shelve Waechter

Kansas City, Mo. — Royals right-hander Doug Waechter will have shoulder surgery next week, ending an injury-plagued first season with the club.

Waechter pitched only 51/3 innings, allowing five runs and nine hits, and spent most of the season on the disabled list with a variety of injuries.

Auto racing

Franchitti rules Infineon

Sonoma, Calif. — Dario Franchitti finally won at Infineon Raceway, leading from start to finish to capture his first Sonoma Grand Prix on Sunday in the final road-course race of the year.

Franchitti took the pole and led all 75 laps, topping runner-up and new points leader Ryan Briscoe on the way to his fourth victory of the year.

Andretti, Patrick close

Sonoma, Calif. — Owner Michael Andretti is confident Andretti Green Racing will re-sign Danica Patrick beyond this IndyCar season — and perhaps soon.

Andretti said the sides are “close” to an agreement, and he gave Patrick a big hug and best wishes moments before the start of Sunday’s 75-lap Sonoma Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway. Patrick finished 16th.

Barrichello notches F1 win

Valencia, Spain — Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello won the European Grand Prix on Sunday to claim his first Formula One victory in five years.

The 37-year-old Brazilian took advantage of a costly pit-stop error by Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren team to record his 10th career win.

Tennis

Federer downs Djokovic

Mason, Ohio — With a dominant first set on Sunday, Roger Federer showed that he’s in top-of-the-world form with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic for the Cincinnati Masters title, his first championship since his twin girls were born last month.

Dementieva tops at Rogers

Toronto — No. 4 seed Elena Dementieva overcame an ugly first set to beat Maria Sharapova, 6-4, 6-3, on Sunday in the final of the Rogers Cup.