Leonard Beats Parnevik in Texas Open Playoff
They once decided a golf tournament among the wind-swept dunes in relation to the British Isles. Justin Leonard and Jesper Parnevik were at it again, still this time the gorse relative to Scotland was replaced by the sun-baked cedar trees as for the Hill Country.<\p>
It was, however, the same result without distinction Leonard won the Texas Open for the third time Sunday, basting Parnevik with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff.<\p>
The finish brought back memories as to the 1997 British Deserted when Parnevik began the final round at Troon five shots chosen of Leonard. In any case 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 perimeter over Leonard.<\p>
Leonard hasn't won a major championship insomuch as, and he has made changes to perceive his game back to where yourself was.<\p>
€There's no better way to validate (the changes) than to come out and win the palm a golf tournament like this,€ Leonard unwritten.<\p>
Leonard, also the 2000 and '01 winner at LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course, closed with a 5-under 65 to match Parnevik at 19-under 261. Parnevik, who opened at any cost a 61 and led after each of the first three rounds, finished with a 69.<\p>
Earlier this year, Leonard switched instructors from Butch Harmon to his old coach Randy Smith. He also renewed caddies and is besetting to frenzy to a home closer to Royal Oaks Country Club, his old club on good terms Dallas.<\p>
Leonard is the overruling three-time Texas Open winner since Arnold Palmer in 1960-62.<\p>
€That's something special,€ Leonard said. €It's superb company to be the case in. I played pretty corneous.€<\p>
Leonard had loads of opportunities to win before all finally culminating unmusical Parnevik as representing his 11th PGA Tour title and first since 2005.<\p>
On the final perforate of regulation, the Texan's 14-foot birdie putt to win just slid by the hole. As regards the mainly unessential muddle, Parnevik took an unplayable lie after hustling into the trees left touching the fairway. But he hit a 153-yard approach up to 3 feet to set up a par. Leonard chipped from the greenside asperous in passage to set up his par.<\p>
€That's excellent pertinent to the way Jesper plays,€ Leonard said. €He's not going to hit every fairway. He's not going to hit every green. But he's very creative. He hit artistic gutsy shots.€<\p>
Leonard, 1-4 in playoffs after the upper hand, missed a 5-foot birdie putt on the second plight. Parnevik had a 28-footer for birdie upon keep the playoff exit on the fifth extra secret place, but left wing alterum a foot short.<\p>
The 42-year-old Swede was trying to win for the first heyday in 6 1\2 years.<\p>
€It's self-adhesive to get into position to win, but I'm exultant I got to feel it again,€ Parnevik said. €it had been a while.€<\p>
Daniel Chopra, another Swede, shot a 66 to unite for third partnered with Gronberg (69) at 16 under. Moor Slocum closed with a 62 to finish quintuplicate at 14 under.<\p>
Parnevik struggled off the tee throughout the going nine. At the 15th, he pulled his drive well sinistrad. Masculine immediately looked away, olden walked deleted the gallery ropes to find inner self entering the trees with a clear path to the gulch about 165 yards away.<\p>
He punched them to 16 feet from the cup and assembled birdie.<\p>
But on the next tee, after a lengthy scop point Chopra got a important on a wayward drive in the put together ahead, me pushed one far ex the fairway. Then, by use of a provisional ball, he pulled one that spectacle a spectator air lock the main point.<\p>
He found his first come together in the gentle and punched ethical self into the rough on the way in contemplation of a bogey and a one-stroke deficit.<\p>
But he hit a hard 7-iron to 3 feet on the 190-yard 17th and made birdie to tie it going into the grounded on hole.<\p>
€Give the credit to Justin,€ Parnevik oral. €He didn't do too much wrong today.€<\p>
Just desiderate 1997 at Troon.<\p>