SYDNEY, 7 February 2005 — Australia’s Craig Parry won a sudden-death playoff with Nick O’Hern yesterday to take the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne.
Parry claimed an unlikely victory in the co-sanctioned European Tour event when he drained a four-meter birdie putt on the fourth extra hole then watched as O’Hern’s attempt from the same distance curled past the lip. Parry, who holed a six-iron from 160 meters to win his first title on the U.S. PGA Tour last season, needed a birdie on the 71st hole to reach the playoff then sank two long putts on the first two extra holes to stay in contention.
“That was bloody hard work. At every hole I thought I was going to lose,” Parry said.
“This ranks right up there...it means a real lot to me.”
O’Hern, who led by a stroke overnight, narrowly missed a three-meter putt on the first playoff hole then another from the same distance at the second extra hole.
The pair were forced into a playoff after finishing the fourth round tied at 14-under-par 270. The left-handed O’Hern closed with an even-par 71 despite an eagle-three at the second hole while Parry’s birdie on 17 gave him a round of 70.
Mickelson Up by Four at Phoenix Open
In Jacksonville, Florida, Phil Mickelson followed up his second round 60 with a more workmanlike five-under 66 at the Phoenix Open on Saturday to take a four-shot lead over South Korea’s Kevin Na.
Mickelson, who equalled the course record at the Tournament Players Club in Scottsdale on Friday, hit six birdies, offset by a single bogey, to leave him on 14-under 199 heading into Sunday. “It was a fun round and there was a lot of people out there,” the left-handed Mickelson said. “It felt like I shot over par compared to yesterday, but it was good enough to get in the lead.”
and I’m looking forward to Sunday’s round. It’s so much fun to play in the last group in this event.” After closing Friday’s round with five consecutive birdies, Mickelson got his day off to a great start with a birdie at the first before picking up shots at the fifth and sixth.
The U.S. Masters champion dropped a shot at the 10th before quickly recovering, closing his round with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.
“The birdie on 17 for me was the biggest one because I can drive the green,” Mickelson said.
“You feel like you need to make birdie there, so I don’t feel like I gave a shot back. If I don’t birdie 18, you feel like you give one back.
“I made the putt. It doesn’t change my mindset any, if I was three ahead or four ahead, but it’s nice to have that extra shot in hand.”
Na, who began the day level with Mickelson, also had three birdies on the front nine. However, the 21-year-old could not keep pace with the leader after the turn, his two birdies offset by three bogeys.
