Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 18, 1994 TAG: 9407180052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND LENGTH: Medium
\ For Nick Price, it was a British Open won after years of working, waiting and wanting.
For Jesper Parnevik, it was a British Open lost because of a silly mistake, likely because he had never before been in such a pressure situation.
The 29-year-old Swede seemingly had the 123rd edition of golf's oldest tournament wrapped up after he birdied the 17th hole, giving him a three-stroke lead.
But Price closed with a birdie-eagle-par finish, the most dramatic stroke a 50- to 60-foot eagle putt at 17 that took nearly 10 seconds to reach the hole.
That came after Parnevik bogeyed 18 when he mistakenly thought he needed a birdie to win. He gambled with his driver off the tee and hit the rough.
Price played a 3-iron safely off the 18th tee en route to his par.
It all added up to a one-stroke victory for Price over Parnevik, 268-269, and a final round of 4-under-par 66 for Price to Parnevik's 67.
"It is like a fairy tale to finish birdie-eagle-par to win a major championship," said Price, who was runner-up in the British Open in 1982 and 1988.
"I really needed to make that putt at 17," said Price, who measured it at 17 paces. "I could not believe it when it went in."
Parnevik, whose only victory as a pro was the 1993 Scottish Open, sat in the scorer's tent and buried his head in his left hand when he heard Price had eagled No. 17.
"I realized I screwed up then," Parnevik said. "I thought I needed a birdie on 18 to win."
It all happened because Parnevik failed to look at the scoreboard.
"It was a costly mistake," Parnevik said. "I thought I was one or two behind. The first time I looked [at the scoreboard] was at the 18th [green]. I thought I was chasing someone else. It was just a bad mistake."
It was not a mistake an experienced player such as Price would make.
"I was looking at the leaderboard regularly," Price said. "You have to base your tactics and strategy on what the other guys are doing."
What Parnevik was doing this day was playing brilliant golf.
With the bill of his cap turned up and a fringe of curly, dirty-blonde hair sticking wildly out beneath the brim, a golf tee stuck behind his right ear, he plodded along stoically, making pars on the first 10 holes.
Then he surged into the lead with birdies at Nos. 11-13. He bogeyed No. 14, but came back with birdies at Nos. 16-17, apparently on his way to victory.
If only he had looked at the scoreboard.
"Sometimes I look at the leaderboard and sometimes I don't," Parnevik said. "The way it turned out I should have taken a glimpse at the 18th."
by CNB