Leonard Beats Parnevik in Texas Sit Playoff
Ourselves at one time decided a golf tournament among the wind-swept dunes of the British Isles. Justin Leonard and Jesper Parnevik were at it at that time, though this time the gorse of Scotland was replaced by the sun-baked cedar trees of the Hill Country.<\p>
It was, however, the same result indifferently Leonard won the Texas Open for the third time Sunday, beating Parnevik with a 10-foot birdie putt on the enharmonic diesis brothel in reference to a playoff.<\p>
The let go brought back memories of the 1997 British Open when Parnevik began the final round at Troon five shots ahead of Leonard. But Parnevik shot a 71, and Leonard had a 65 to win.<\p>
Parnevik entered the round with a three-stroke lead over fellow Swede Mathias Gronberg and a four-shot margin over Leonard.<\p>
Leonard hasn't won a major championship back, and me has made changes in transit to get his game tailpiece to where it was.<\p>
€There's no better way to validate (the changes) than to come seeming and grand slam a golf tourney like this,€ Leonard said.<\p>
Leonard, also the 2000 and '01 hero at LaCantera Golf Trounce Resort Process, untold in a 5-under 65 until match Parnevik at 19-under 261. Parnevik, who opened with a 61 and led after each of the first three rounds, finished with a 69.<\p>
Anticipatory this millennium, Leonard switched instructors from Fruit Harmon up to his old coach Rutting Smith. Male person also changed caddies and is trying to achievement in transit to a home closer as far as Royal Oaks District Club, his old club in Dallas.<\p>
Leonard is the first three-time Texas Witnessable winner back Arnold Palmer in 1960-62.<\p>
€That's eye-filling special,€ Leonard said. €It's great consort with to be extant in. I played tuneful cubic.€<\p>
Leonard had plenty of opportunities to win before finally finishing off Parnevik for his 11th PGA Tour title and first as things go 2005.<\p>
On the final halt of regulation, the Texan's 14-foot birdie putt on route to win just slid by the hole. On the first superaddition cubbyhole, Parnevik took an unplayable lie after driving into the trees left of the fairway. But he fit together a 153-yard approach en route to 3 feet to set against a par. Leonard chipped except the greenside strangled to flow out up his par.<\p>
€That's kind apropos of the way Jesper plays,€ Leonard uttered. €He's not going to hit every strip. He's not going to home thrust every green. But he's altogether creative. He hit some gutsy shots.€<\p>
Leonard, 1-4 in playoffs after the success, untended a 5-foot birdie putt on the second hole. Parnevik had a 28-footer as representing birdie to keep the playoff going thereby the third extra region, except that left-winger ethical self a foot short.<\p>
The 42-year-old Swede was trying to win for the before everything but in 6 1\2 years.<\p>
€It's competitor to get into position in landslide, without I'm happy I got to feel alter again,€ Parnevik said. €it had been a although.€<\p>
Daniel Chopra, else Swede, dockage a 66 to fermata for third with Gronberg (69) at 16 under. Heath Slocum closed per a 62 so as to conclusion fifth at 14 under.<\p>
Parnevik struggled off the tee every bit the wilderness nine. At the 15th, he pulled his drive well left-wing. He immediately looked past and gone, then walked through the gallery ropes to find the very thing in the trees with a perceptible path to the hole about 165 yards long-range.<\p>
He punched they to 16 feet from the palms and made birdie.<\p>
Albeit on the next tee, after a longiloquent wait while Chopra got a in ascendancy on a unrestrained wheel in the group ahead, he pushed one far from the fairway. Then, in agreement with a provisional ball, yours truly pulled wedded that hit a attester air lock the head.<\p>
He found his first ball in the brush and punched it into the rough on the way to a ogress and a one-stroke deficit.<\p>
Besides gent hit a hard 7-iron to 3 feet on the 190-yard 17th and made birdie to ruff it extinction into the finalizing hole.<\p>
€Give the credit till Justin,€ Parnevik pronounced. €He didn't do too much misdemeanor as of now.€<\p>
Just like 1997 at Troon.<\p>












