22
Jun
Knaresborough golfer wins $400,000 at US Open
Dear Reader, this article is free to read. We publish about 100 articles a week all exclusively focused on local news. Please support independent local journalism by subscribing here. It costs as little as 14p a day.
Knaresborough golfer John Parry won $400,000 at the US Open, one of the sport’s four major championships, yesterday (June 21).
Parry returned to the prestigious PGA Tour this year at the age of 39. Since then, he has enjoyed the best season of his life, winning $680,000.
His joint eleventh place finish at the US Open, won by American Wyndham Clark, is his highest finish at a major event.
After finishing ahead of superstars such as Rory McIlroy, he told the DP World Tour it was “dream come true” and “sometimes you’ve got to pinch yourself”.
Asked how much he has changed since his last US Open appearance 11 years ago, he joked:
I’ve got fatter, grayer but I think I’ve learnt. I’ve learnt this is the way I play a certain way. I’m not going to try and copy Rory McIlroy, because that’s never going happen for me.
Even out there today when it’s tough, you think, Blimey, I’m playing the U.S. Open at Shinnecock. It’s not half bad. It definitely helps.
Parry was born in Knaresborough and attended the town's King James’s School.
His childhood golf course was Harrogate Golf Club.
Parry’s late career resurgence is like a golfing version of the Rocky story.
For years he languished at the lowest levels of the professional game but excelling on the European tour last season, when he achieved a hole in one at the Open, qualified him for the PGA Tour.
He made the cut in 12 consecutive events, including at the PGA Championship, but recently began to struggle with his putting and missed the cut at the two events leading up to the US Open.
However, he bounced back in windy conditions to finish two over par, six shots behind the winner. Had he not dropped a shot on the final hole, he would have finished joint seventh and earned $617,000 rather than $406,000.
0