Local boy John Merrick sealed his first PGA Tour win as he edged out Charlie Beljan in a play-off for the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.

George Clooney has led the tributes to his 'Michael Clayton' co-star Sydney Pollack, branding the actor/director a "class act".

Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay who achieved commercial success and critical acclaim with 'Tootsie' and period drama 'Out Of Africa', has died of cancer at 73, his agent said today.