Monday, June 02, 2008
Perry Picks Up Memorial Tournament Win

American Kenny Perry held off the challenge of Justin Rose to clinch the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Luke Donald carded 73 to finish in a group tied for eighth on two under, while world number two Phil Mickelson ended two over.

"I was great mentally out there but the putts just didn't go in," said Rose.

"Winning is all about making the putts at the right time and I had a hot putter this week and I felt I was hitting decent putts, but I didn't quite have the confidence in the read."

Perry’s victory has pushed him up the Ryder Cup standings where he is currently fifth.

In 1996 Perry lost the PGA Championship to Mark Brooks in a playoff at Valhalla.


That loss is the biggest disappointment in a career that covers 22 years and includes 10 victories. Three of those have come in Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament. Perry (1991, 2003 and '08) joins Tiger Woods (1999, 2000, '01) as the only men with a hatrick of wins in the tournament.

Perry had a chance to win The Players Championship last month, but he shot 81 in the final round to tie for 15th. A week later he led the AT&T Classic near Atlanta until a bogey on the final hole dropped him into a playoff that he lost to Ryuji Imada.

He came to the Memorial boosted by memories of past success knowing that Azinger wanted a team of tournament winners.

Azinger added that some players would make the team on points without winning and some winners would not earn enough points to make it. But in general he wanted 12 players who have the confidence gained by winning this year.

"I just want to make the team and play at home," Perry said. "Kentucky is starved for golf."

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6/2/2008 10:34:13 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #  Comments [0] 


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