Parry’s Victory Is a Real Long Shot

Craig Parry knew his final shot was a good one. He had no idea it was perfect.

Parry’s six-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 Miami.

Parry’s eagle came on the Blue Monster’s signature 18th hole -- the toughest on tour this year. The hole surrendered only nine birdies in the final round and 31 in the tournament.

“It’s amazing,” Parry said. “I probably won’t be able to put into words what actually happened.”

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 an 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.

*

Mark O’Meara closed with a three-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Ireland’s Paul McGinley in the Dubai Open at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“Chalk one up for the old boys,” said the 47-year-old O’Meara, whose last victory came at the 1998 British Open, just months after he won the Masters.

O’Meara finished at 17-under 271 and earned $333,330.

Tiger Woods closed with a four-under 68 and finished five strokes behind in a tie for fifth. It was his fifth top-10 finish in five events this year.

*

Ed Fiori won the MasterCard Classic for his first Champions Tour title, beating Australia’s Graham Marsh with a par on the third hole of a playoff at Huixquilucan, Mexico.

Fiori, seven strokes back after the second round, shot a five-under 67 to match Marsh at six-under 210 on the Bosque Real Country Club course.

Marsh had a chance to win on the final hole of regulation, but his birdie try missed by inches.