San Diego — The best Lefty at Torrey Pines on Sunday turned out to be Bubba Watson.

Watson made clutch putts on the final two holes, including a 12-foot birdie on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 67 to win the Farmer Insurance Open in a finish filled with the kind of drama that few could have predicted.

Phil Mickelson — the more popular Lefty and the San Diego favorite — was one shot behind and was only 228 yards away in the rough when he decided to lay up before Watson even attempted his birdie putt.

Then came a loud cheer as Watson sank his putt for a two-shot lead, meaning Mickelson would have to hole out a wedge from 72 yards for eagle to force a playoff. He had his caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, tend the flag — rare for a full shot from the fairway — and the gallery gasped when the ball landed just behind the hole and started to spin back toward the cup.

But it never had a chance.

Former Kansas University golfer Gary Woodland finished 1-over par at 289, good for a tie for 58th place. He shot rounds of 71, 69, 76 and 73 and earned $12,876.

Golf

Casey prevails at Volvo

Riffa, Bahrain — England’s Paul Casey sank a five-foot par putt at the last hole to win the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions for his first title in 20 months.

Casey needed the putt at No. 18 at the Royal Golf Club on Sunday to secure the victory over playing partner Peter Hanson.

Nicklaus, Watson win skins game

Kaanapali, Hawaii — Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson successfully defended their Champions Skins Game title Sunday, finishing with seven skins and $310,000 to edge Mark O’Meara and Bernhard Langer by $10,000.

Nicklaus and Watson took five skins and $250,000 on the par-3 17th.

NHL

Team Lidstrom tops Team Staal

Raleigh, N.C. — Danny Briere, Jonathan Toews and Martin St. Louis scored during a four-minute span of the third period to lift Team (Nicklas) Lidstrom over Team (Eric) Staal, 11-10, on Sunday in the NHL All-Star game.

NBA

Pacers fire coach O’Brien

Indianapolis — The Indiana Pacers fired coach Jim O’Brien on Sunday after failing to make the playoffs each of the past three years and squandering a promising start this year.

The Pacers went 121-169 under O’Brien and are 17-27 this season.

Assistant coach Frank Vogel will take over the team on an interim basis.

Boston’s Rivers fined $15,000

Los Angeles — Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was fined $15,000 for leaving the court too slowly after being ejected from a game in Phoenix.

Rivers’ fine was announced Sunday morning before Boston played Los Angeles.

Women’s Basketball

Taurasi denies taking enhancers

Former UConn women’s basketball star Diana Taurasi is adamant: No matter what the test results showed, she never used performance-enhancing drugs.

“There’s no way I’ve ever taken anything,” she told the Associated Press by telephone Sunday night from her parents’ home in Chino, Calif.

In her first interview since testing positive in December for the stimulant modafinil, Taurasi and her lawyer blamed the Turkish lab where the sample was analyzed.

College Football

Arkansas WR arrested

Fayeteville, Ark. — Arkansas wide receiver Lance Ray has been arrested and charged with marijuana possession.

The 19-year-old Ray was arrested late Saturday night by university police after the smell of marijuana was detected coming from his dorm room. According to a preliminary police report, Ray had a brown rolled cigarette containing a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana.

The misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

Baseball

Pitcher Bush agrees to minor-league deal with Rangers

Arlington, Texas — Free agent right-hander Dave Bush agreed to a minor-league deal with the AL champion Texas Rangers on Sunday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Bush spent the last five seasons with Milwaukee.

Report: King’s son looking at Mets

New York — The son of Martin Luther King Jr. is reportedly interested in becoming a minority owner of the New York Mets.

The New York Post reported Sunday that Martin Luther King III is part of a bid that includes former Mets first baseman Ed Kranepool, Donn Clendenon Jr. and television executive Larry Meli. Clendenon’s father was MVP of the Mets’ 1969 World Series victory.

Meli said that King, who runs the King Center in Atlanta, is coming to New York this week to meet with Mets owner Fred Wilpon and his son, CEO Jeff Wilpon.