Parry forecasts Aussie assault
Three in a row for Ross
ROSS McFarlane is taking his latest golfing success in his stride.
The 60-year-old from Grovedale has won his third straight Victorian Veterans Golf title, making it four wins in five years.
On top of that, he’s also won the past three Country Championships.
‘‘There’s other things that are more important in life, but it’s better to win than lose,’’ he said yesterday.
McFarlane, a Barwon Valley Golf Club member who plays off four, won the veterans’ title at Phillip Island by 13 strokes.
‘‘It’s a two-round tourna- ment. I was three up after the first round and then shot 75 in the second,’’ he said.
Barwon Valley club captain Ian Knell said it was great to see McFarlane continuing to play good golf.
‘‘Since Ross came here he’s been a great asset, not only as a golfer, but as a person,’’ he said. VETERAN golfer Craig Parry predicts it’s just a matter of time before the floodgates open for Australians at major tournaments, saying Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day are well placed to break the six-year drought.
Australia has not tasted success at a major since Ogilvy snared the 2006 US Open, although there have been a number of close calls in recent times.
World No.6 Scott, Ogilvy and Day were all in the hunt at last year’s US Masters before being pipped by a rampaging Charl Schwartzel, while Scott threw away victory at this year’s British Open in the final four holes.
Scott, Day, Ogilvy and world No. 38 John Senden remain Australia’s best chances at the biggest tournaments, while world No. 56 Aaron Baddeley has the talent to shine if everything clicks.
Victorian Parry, who has pocketed $8,481,456 in prizemoney and snared two US PGA Tour wins since turning professional in 1985, felt there were bright skies ahead for Australia’s golfers.
‘‘Australia’s doing very well. You’ve got Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day – these guys are world-class players,’’ Parry said yesterday.
‘‘Scotty was really unlucky this year. It’s just a matter of time. The floodgates will open and there’ll be a heap of major winners.’’
Day’s world ranking has slipped to 27 since the birth of his first child in July, with the 25- year- old recording only four top-10 finishes on the US PGA Tour this year, compared to 10 last season.
But Parry predicted the 25- year- old would bounce back to form in 2013.
Parry will compete at the $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, which starts tomorrow.
The event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
Also in the field is Schwartzel, who feels no remorse for breaking the hearts of Australian fans with his 2011 Masters triumph.
Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to win that event, leaving Scott, Day and Ogilvy in his wake.
‘‘I didn’t think it was cruel,’’ the South African said with a laugh when asked about his two- shot victory over Day and Scott, with Ogilvy four shots off the pace.