Golf: Man who tamed Tiger back for another shot

Craig Parry with the trophy he picked up after winning the 2002 NZ Open. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Everybody calls it the Tiger Woods Open, the 2002 New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu, which starred the world's No 1 player and generated more hype than Jonah Lomu.

Even Craig Parry acknowledges the reality. And he has every reason to demur as he won that Open by a shot from Steve Alker, Michael Campbell and Stephen Leaney, with Woods half-a-dozen shots back in a share of sixth place.

The genial Australian, known as Popeye because of his formidable forearms, will be back for another tilt at the title next month at Gulf Harbour. It is his first appearance at the Open since Paraparaumu.

So why the delayed return?

"I was all set to come back and defend the next year, but the organisers wouldn't even pay an airfare," Parry said yesterday.

"I was in Hawaii and actually at the airport booking the tickets when they said they wouldn't pay. So I didn't play and spent the time on the beach. This time there are different tournament organisers and they've been much more helpful."

Parry has never played at Gulf Harbour, but he is looking forward to the challenge and should be at the top of his form.

"I usually take a break at the beginning of the year, but this month I played the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii and finished 10th, and then I was 28th in the next event but played much better than that," he said.

"I'll play the Heineken in Melbourne next week before coming over to Gulf Harbour."

Parry was in the field for the limited-field Mercedes event as a reward for one of the most spectacular victories on the US PGA Tour last season.

At the Doral Open he holed a six-iron from 170m for an eagle to win a playoff with Scott Verplank.

The victory was worth US$900,000 ($1.26 million), the major contributor to the US$1,308,586 he won on the Tour in 2004.

That winning cheque was topped by the US$1 million he collected after he won the NEC Invitational in 2002 soon after his triumph at Paraparaumu. He has already pocketed US$177,640 from his two tournaments this year.

Parry and the rest of the field at Gulf Harbour will be playing for a stake of $1.5 million, a healthy increase from last year.

The ING-sponsored NZPGA tournament in Christchurch gives New Zealand two events with million-dollar prize money.

Across the Tasman the Tour has struggled recently to maintain the rich sponsorship of a few years back. Parry believes the Sydney Olympics can take some of the blame.

"The Olympics took a lot out of the sponsorship pool," he said. "Also, the Wallabies have been doing pretty well and our cricketers aren't bad.

"The difference with golf is that people see the stars in action and then go and play themselves. You don't get the same with cricket and football."

Parry will sport a legacy of his own children's play when he comes to Auckland. He was surfing with his two boys when he suffered a cut around the eye which needed hospital treatment, but it has affected his looks not his form.

New Zealand Open

* Dates: February 10-13.

* Venue: Gulf Harbour.