Parry chips in for second tour win
MIAMI Craig Parry knew his final shot was a good one. He had no idea it was perfect.
Parry's 6-iron shot from 176 yards bounced twice and rolled into the hole for an eagle Sunday to beat Scott Verplank on the first playoff hole in the Ford Championship at Doral.
Parry's eagle came on the Blue Monster's signature 18th hole the toughest on tour this year. The hole surrendered just nine birdies in the final round and 31 in the tournament.
Parry made it look easy.
His drive went 298 yards and landed in the center of the fairway. Verplank, who shot a bogey-free 67 in the final round to send it to extra holes, hit his tee shot in the right rough. His second shot was rolling toward a bunker when it turned left and stopped on the edge of the green.
''I was pretty proud of it until his ball rolled in,'' Verplank said.
Verplank was walking to the green when he saw Parry's ball fall into the cup. He smiled and handed his putter back to his caddie.
''I guess he was supposed to win,'' Verplank said.
Parry, meanwhile, didn't actually see the ball drop. After his swing, he figured it would be a few feet from the pin, but when he heard the crowd going crazy, he knew it was in for eagle. He tossed his club, kicked his left leg up and pumped his right fist. Then he hugged his caddie, his brother Glenn.
Parry and Verplank finished at 17-under 271. Retief Goosen (66) was one shot back in third, and Joe Durant was fourth.
David Toms, making his third start since hand surgery in December, missed a 5-foot putt on No. 18 that dropped him into a four-way tie for fifth with 46-year-old Bernhard Langer, 41-year-old Gene Sauers and K.J. Choi.
Phil Mickelson, who started the day two shots behind Parry, shot a 2-over 74 to match his worst round of the year and finish tied for 24th. He also shot 74 in the first round in the Buick Invitational.
The lefty needed 31 putts to get around the Blue Monster, including 17 on the front nine. He missed five birdie putts from inside 13 feet during his first nine holes, including birdie attempts on Nos. 1 and 2 from inside 6 feet.
''When those didn't go in, not only did it hurt my score, but it also hurt my confidence with the putter,'' said Mickelson, who hadn't finished lower than seventh in any of the previous five events this year.
Parry started the final round 13 under, one shot ahead of Verplank and Gene Sauers. The 38-year-old Australian moved to 17 under with birdies on four of his first eight holes. He moved to 18 under with a birdie on No. 10 but gave it back with a three-putt on the 13th.
Verplank made three birdies on the back to force extra holes. His toughest shot may have been a 6 1/2-foot putt on 18 to remain 17 under.
Parry's second career victory on the PGA Tour was worth $900,000. He also won a $140,000 Ford GT, the most expensive car given away on tour.
His week ended much the way it started later than expected. He woke up less than 15 minutes before his opening round tee time Thursday, saying he slept right through the alarm clock because he was so jet-lagged from his trip.
He needed an extra hole to win on tour for the first time since the 2002 NEC Invitational.