Vikings close with 29 straight points to beat rival Packers as Wentz replaces injured Murray

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carson Wentz came in after Kyler Murray's first-quarter concussion in his Minnesota debut and led a spirited comeback against the rival Green Bay Packers as the Vikings scored 29 straight points to close a 39-22 victory to open the season Sunday.

Wentz had two touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson, matching the two-time All-Pro's 2025 season total, and the pair connected on a 2-point converstion when the Vikings took their first lead at 25-22 with 6:37 remaining. Green Bay extended the drive three times with crushing defensive penalties.

Jordan Love, who had been brilliant against a relentlessly blitzing defense, melted down along with the rest of the team by losing a fumble on a sack and throwing an interception deep in Packers territory.

Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason each had rushing touchdowns and T.J. Hockenson caught one of the three scores thrown by the 11th-year veteran Wentz, who was appointed the backup to Murray ahead of 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy for his considerable edge in experience.

Love finished 21 for 42 for 387 yards and two first-half touchdowns to Christian Watson, but the two late turnovers and a 3-for-12 conversion rate on third downs loomed large as the Packers picked right up where they left off with a five-game losing streak that ended last season.

The Packers lost four times after leading in the second half by at least two possessions, including their wild card playoff collapse against another NFC North rival in the Chicago Bears, who outscored the Packers 25-6 in the fourth quarter.

Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur might have mistakenly triggered this meltdown with his decision to take rookie Trey Smack's field goal off the board to set up a fourth-and-1 on an offside penalty. Love was stuffed at the line with a five-point lead, and the Vikings went the other way for the go-ahead score by Jones, the former Packers favorite who had yet to reach the end zone against his former team.

The Packers actually four defensive penalties on that drive, starting with a seemingly innocent encroachment call on Jonathan Ford.

Jonathan Bullard, whose injurious hit on Murray was flagged, was called for illegal contact to negate a third-down sack. Rookie Chris McClellan was penalized for a late hit on Wentz to wipe out a third-down incompletion. Then Xavier McKinney's defensive holding call erased an end-zone interception by Evan Williams. Jones scored on the next play.

Packers LG Aaron Banks (knee) was inactive, giving Donovan Jennings his first career start.

Packers: at New York Jets on Sept. 20.

Vikings: at Chicago Bears on Sept. 20.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Celebrates his touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) rolls out of the pocket before throwing a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) catches a touchdown pass as Green Bay Packers' Zaire Franklin (44) and Xavier McKinney (29) look on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, bottom, as Dallas Turner (15) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson celebrates a defensive stop against the Green Bay Packers as he watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — The Solheim Cup is back in the hands of the Europeans after they won seven of the 12 singles matches Sunday at Bernardus for a 15-13 victory over the United States.

The blue wave came early and never really went away, with Lottie Woad holing a putt from 2 feet on No. 17 to guarantee Europe reaching the 14 1/2 points needed to beat the United States. Moments later, Carlota Ciganda closed out her match over Jennifer Kupcho for the final point.

Ciganda also won the point that retained the Solheim Cup for Europe in 2023.

The Europeans have now won three of the last five editions, the only loss in that stretch coming in Virginia two years ago.

The teams were tied at 8-8 after two days and set out Sunday in heavy rain for the singles, with Europe going out fast and putting blue all over the scoreboard. Early wins for Charley Hull and Linn Grant set the tone. The only wobble coming when U.S. player Alison Lee came from 4 down after 11 holes to beat Esther Henseleit, 1 up, for the biggest comeback in Solheim Cup history.

Europe now has won the last three times on home soil.

DOONBEG, Ireland (AP) — Shane Lowry gave his home crowd and President Donald Trump plenty to cheer Sunday when he turned a four-shot lead into a runaway at Doonbeg, closing with a 7-under 63 to break the Irish Open record with an 11-shot victory.

Lowry opened with four birdies in eight holes, one of them from 45 feet over a ridge at No. 7, and the Irishman poured it on before a delirious gallery at Trump International Ireland.

He finished on 23-under 257, seven shots better than the previous 72-hole record of 264 by Jon Rahm at Lahinch in 2019. Lowry won by 11 shots over Patrick Reed (64) and Joaquin Niemann (67), breaking the Irish Open record by one shot for the largest victory margin. Bernhard Langer held the record of 10 shots at Portmarnock in 1987.

Lowry won the Irish Open for the second time, 17 years after he won as an amateur.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Zach Johnson won the Sanford International on Sunday for the fifth victory of his first PGA Tour Champions season, birdieing the final two holes to edge Ben Crane by a stroke.

The 50-year-old Johnson closed with a 4-under 66 at Minnehaha Country Club to finish at 11 under. He matched Stewart Cink for the tour victory lead.

Crane also shot 66. He finished birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie.

Mario Tiziani had a 63 to tie for third at 8 under with Boo Weekley (64), Ryan Armour (66), Chad Campbell (67) and 2025 winner Retief Goosen (68).

Johnson won 12 times on the PGA Tour, highlighted by major titles at the 2007 Masters and 2015 British Open.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico wrapped up a PGA Tour card for next season, winning the Simmons Bank Open on Sunday for his second Korn Ferry Tour title of the year.

Ortiz closed with a 7-under 63 for a four-stroke victory, that sent him from 20th to fifth in the season standings. He finished at a tournament-record 26-under 254 at Vanderbilt Legends Club after opening with rounds of 65, 61 and 65.

Ortiz also won the UNC Health Championship in a playoff in May.

Sandy Scott of Scotland was second after a 67.

Etienne Papineau of Canada won the PGA Tour Americas' Digital Commerce Group Open at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia. He finished with a 9-under 61 to reach 25-under 255. Charlie Nikitas was four strokes back in second. ... Kosuke Sunagawa closed with a 3-under 69 for a two-shot victory in the Shinhan Donghae Open for his first Japan Golf Tour title ... Former LIV Golf player Frederik Kjetterup shot 5-under 67 and held on for a one-shot victory in the English Trophy to claim his first Challenge Tour title. ... Samuel Simpson closed with a 5-under 65 for a one-shot victory in the SunBet Challenge on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. ... Miyu Yamashita, the 2025 Women’s British Open champion, closed with a 3-under 69 and defeated Yuzuki Yoshizawa in a playoff to win the Sony JLPGA Championship. ... Bokyeom Park won the KB Financial Group Golden Life Championship by closing with a 1-under 71 to win by one shot on the Korea LPGA.

See AP’s full golf coverage here

President Donald Trump, right, smiles as Shane Lowry of Ireland celebrates with the trophy after winning the Irish Open golf tournament at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Ireland, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

U.S. President Donald Trump presents the trophy to Irish Open golf winner Shane Lowry of Ireland whilst Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin, center rear, looks on, at the Trump International Golf Links course in Doonbeg, Ireland, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Linn Grant of Europe holds the trophy as she celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Anna Nordqvist, Europe team captain, kisses the trophy after her team won the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)