Craig Parry’s patience was finally rewarded at Sahalee Country Club when, after ten years of competition on the US PGA Tour, he entered the winners’ enclosure for the first time by capturing the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational on a day when six European Tour Members finished in the top 20.
Parry, 36, who rejoined The European Tour earlier this year, closed with a six under par 65 for a 16 under par total of 268 to turn August 25, 2002 into a version of “Australia Day” with Adam Scott having claimed the Diageo Scottish PGA Championship on the other side of the Atlantic several hours earlier.
Parry finished four clear of compatriot Robert Allenby and American Fred Funk, who closed woth rounds of 69 and 68 respectively, and five clear of World Number One Tiger Woods who was attempting to win the title for a fourth successive year.
Meanwhile Justin Rose of England produced another outstanding display by taking fifth place on only his second start in the United States. The 22 year old, twice a winner on The European Tour International Schedule in 2002 and prominent in both the Open Championship and US PGA Championship lay in second place with eight holes remaining.
However Rose bogeyed the 11th and 12th and eventually signed for a 68 and a ten under par total of 274 for fifth place. Rose had seven birdies on his cad but back to back bogeys on both nines proved costly. It was nevertheless a tremendous effort by the youngster, who said: “It was a really good result – a big result for me in terms of World Ranking points and money towards the Volvo Order of Merit.
“I would have taken this finish at the start of the week. I really hung in there and stayed patient. I’ve had a couple of Sundays recently when I haven’t done too much – notably at Loch Lomond and Muirfield – when I had opportunities to do well. Today I stayed relaxed and played and putted much better.”
Rose’s play impressed partner Phil Mickelson, who observed: “I think Justin is a tremendous golfer. He doesn’t seem to have a weakness and I look forward to playing with him and against him for many years to come.”
As the tournament unfolded, a superb outward half of 31 enabled Parry to break free from a tie for the 54-hole lead with Allenby, and sweep into a three shot lead at the turn. He covered the back nine in 32 to close out that long awaited maiden success.
Victory was sweet for Parry, who came close to winning the Masters Tournament ten years earlier and missed out on a play-off for the 1999 Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie after triple-bogeying the 12th hole and taking a double at the 17th.
Still, he remained patient, convinced his time would come. Over a full decade in America, having swapped Sydney for Orlando, the elusive victory had not materialised despite four second place finishes, four third places and 33 top tens.
"I had the mindset that I was not going to make any bogeys and birdies were going to make me harder to catch," said Parry.
"It's going to give me a lot of confidence knowing that I finished the job off here."
Parry made his move in rounds two and three, shooting 65 and 66 to tie Allenby at ten under par. Allenby had earlier broken the course record in the second round with a 63 to move into a halfway tie with Steve Lowery, one ahead of Retief Goosen, who had led after 18 holes with Japan’s Toshi Izawa.
Three successive birdies from the second, and another at the ninth, carried Parry to the turn in 31 and four ahead of Tiger Woods, the three time champion and bidding to become the first player on the US PGA Tour to win one event on four consecutive occasions in 72 years.
As players around him fought hard to make an impression on his lead, Parry stayed composed and came home in 34 to achieve the most significant win of his career.
Allenby, who slipped back to eight under par with four holes remaining, staged a late rally with four consecutive birdies for a round of 69 and share of second place with Funk on 272, 12 under par.
Woods, who had birdied the last four holes himself in the US PGA Championship the previous Sunday, picked up a shot on the 18th to finish on 273, 11 under par while there Michael Campbell, Goosen and Vijay Singh finished in a tie for 11th with Thomas Björn and Lee Westwood in a share of 15th after closing 70s.
Westwood was encouraged by his week’s showing. He said: “Overall it was a good solid performance. If I keep working on things, hopefully it will get better and better.”
Björn, who played with Westwood for the last three days, added: “Lee took a massive step forward this week. He’s getting back to doing his own thing and grinding it out and hitting a lot of good shots.”
