Yuma Kagiyama wins despite errors at Finlandia Trophy in figure skating Grand Prix series

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Yuma Kagiyama skated what he thought might be his “worst program” of the season but still won the Finlandia Trophy figure skating Grand Prix on Saturday, securing his place at next month's Grand Prix Final.

The Olympic silver medalist from Japan had a big lead from Friday's short program. He needed it. Kagiyama bailed out of his opening quadruple flip and had to put a foot down to steady himself on the landing of his second quad jump.

Kagiyama credited the crowd with helping him stabilize the skate, landing two more quads and finishing with a total score of 263.09 to win by less than four points from France’s Kevin Aymoz, who had been nearly 19 adrift following the short program.

“More than the feeling of being happy, I have regrets of how I skated in the free skate and I think it may have been the worst program that I’ve done this season,” Kagiyama said through an interpreter. “I regret not having been able to bring my best to you all here today.”

Kagiyama joins Ilia Malinin of the United States on two Grand Prix wins this season. Kagiyama won his titles back-to-back a week apart on opposite sides of the world after victory at the NHK Trophy in Japan last week.

Aymoz picked up his fourth career Grand Prix silver medal and second of this season — he has yet to win a gold in the series — after some problems of his own. Aymoz fell on his opening quad toeloop but recovered for a total 259.15, narrowly beating Italy's Daniel Grassl on 258.55.

Grassl had been sixth in the short program and rose to a podium place in the free skate for the second week running after improving from fifth to second at the NHK Trophy.

The 2023 world championship silver medalist Cha Jun-hwan of South Korea withdrew from the event overnight with an unspecified injury after placing seventh in the short program.

Hana Yoshida shrugged off a fall on her opening triple axel to become the third Japanese skater to win a women's Grand Prix this season. She won by the tightest of margins.

Yoshida's score of 199.46 was only ahead of fellow Japanese skater Rino Matsuike on 199.20 because Matsuike was given a one-point deduction for a time violation.

“I’m really happy that I got to win a gold medal but I wanted to land the triple axel, so I think I could do better. But I’m happy because I didn’t give up until the last second,” Yoshida said.

The field for the competition had been depleted by the withdrawals last week of world silver medalist Isabeau Levito of the United States and European champion Loena Hendrickx of Belgium.

Italy's Lara Naki Gutmann wasn't even meant to be in the competition, but those withdrawals handed her a spot and she turned it into her first career Grand Prix medal with bronze on 198.49, denying Sarah Everhardt of the United States a podium spot.

Gutmann is the only skater not from the U.S. or Japan to win a women's medal in a Grand Prix this season. The ice dance event begins with the rhythm dance later Saturday.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Lara Naki Gutmann of Italy competes during women's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Rino Matsuike of Japan competes during women's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Hana Yoshida of Japan competes during women's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Daniel Grassl of Italy performs during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Kevin Aymoz of France performs during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Kevin Aymoz of France performs during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan performs during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

Yuma Kagiyama of Japan during the men's free skating at the international figure skating competition Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva via AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy was tied for the lead with Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner heading into the final round of the season-ending World Tour Championship as the Northern Irishman closed in on a sixth Race to Dubai title on Saturday.

McIlroy could have taken the lead outright but his birdie putt at the last hole horseshoed the cup, leaving him to make par for a 4-under 68 and 12-under par for the tournament alongside Hojgaard (66).

Rozner, who started the third round with a one-stroke lead, made it a three-way tie at the top by rolling in an eagle putt from 8 feet at No. 18 for a 69.

They were two strokes ahead of Jesper Svensson (68) and Joaquin Niemann (69), with Tyrrell Hatton (71) a further shot back after an expletive-filled round that included him snapping a club.

McIlroy looks sure of winning another Race to Dubai — formerly Order of Merit — crown for the most points gained throughout the year on the European tour. It would be title No. 6, tying him with the late Seve Ballesteros and leaving him two behind the record of Colin Montgomerie.

But the No. 3-ranked McIlroy’s aim has been to hold two trophies on the 18th green on Sunday as he goes for his fourth tournament victory of the season worldwide, after the Dubai Desert Classic on the European tour and the Zurich Classic team event and the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour.

“It’s a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note,” McIlroy said. “Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.”

Hojgaard birdied six of his first eight holes and made pars the rest of his round, making five at the last despite driving onto rocks guarding the water and needing to take a drop and then getting a free drop after nearly hitting his approach out of bounds.

“It was looking more like an 8 at some point,” he said.

Hojgaard is looking to emulate his twin brother, Nicolai, who won the season-closing event in Dubai last year.

“We talked about it earlier this week, how cool it would be — another Højgaard could defend the title,” Rasmus Hojgaard said. “It would be quite cool if that was to happen.”

Both Hojgaard and the No. 154-ranked Rozner are seeking to claim one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer for next season from the European tour. Rasmus would be joining Nicolai in the United States if that happens.

As for Rozner, he said his focus was “on tomorrow and tomorrow only” despite Sunday being potentially life-changing for him.

“Put a good score, and that’s the only thing that’s going to matter now for me,” said Rozner, a three-time winner on the European tour. “I have to come out with the right mindset.”

Hatton started the day one shot off the lead but an incident-filled round included him missing a par putt from inside 2 feet at No. 4 and pressing his iron so hard into the ground after pulling his third shot at No. 14 that it snapped.

“It’s time for change, I’m afraid. That’s a terrible influence on the next generation," said Ewen Murray, who was commentating on British broadcaster Sky Sports.

Earlier, after missing a five-foot putt for birdie at No. 11, Hatton slammed his putter down on the green and repeatedly swore in comments picked up on TV.

The European tour said Hatton would be fined for breaching its code of conduct.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Joaquin Niemann of Chile, left, and Tyrell Hatton of England walk towards the 1st green during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Tyrell Hatton of England plays his second shot on the 2nd hole during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Antoine Rozner of France plays his second shot on the 9th hole during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Antoine Rozner of France lines up a putt on the 8th green during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark plays his second shot on the16th hole during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark plays his second shot on the 2nd hole during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Antoine Rozner of France, left, and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland walk towards the 1st green during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the 1st hole during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot on the 7th green during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 1st green during the second round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)