Craig David Parry has been one of Australia’s premier golfers since turning professional in 1985, and has 23 career victories, two of those wins being events on the PGA Tour.
Parry first came to the attention of golf fans during the 1992 Masters Tournament. After finishing tied for 11th in the 1991 U.S. Open, he qualified for the following year’s Masters. Parry shared the lead after 36 holes and took sole possession after the third round. However, on Sunday he faltered and finished tied for 13th.
He won six events on the European Tour, the latest being his play-off victory over fellow Australian Nick O’Hern at the 2005 Heineken Classic, an event which had been dominated by South African superstar Ernie Els the preceding three years. He played the European Tour on a regular basis from 1988 to 1991 and had two top-10 finishes on the Order of Merit: third in 1989 and fifth in 1991.
From 1992 until 2006 he played mainly on the PGA Tour, while continuing to compete around the world. Since 2007 he has concentrated on playing the Japan Golf Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia. He has featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
His victory at the 2002 New Zealand Open will long be remembered as the Tiger Woods New Zealand Open. A group of financiers made it possible for the world number one to compete in an event which he was playing as a thank you to his kiwi caddie Steve Williams.
Unseasonal heavy rain provided challenges for everyone involved, as did the security threat that preceded the arrival of Woods. Stephen Leaney lead going into the last round, but a superb final round from Australia’s Craig Parry held off the challenge of Leaney and once again two New Zealander’s Michael Campbell and Steven Alker.
