Perry makes it three at Memorial

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 the Memorial Tournament | Round Four | 02 Jun 2008

Kenny Perry won his first tournament in more than three years and his third at Muirfield Village when he came overcame a three shot third round deficit to defeat Jerry Kelly, Justin Rose, Mike Weir and third round leader, Mathew Goggin, to win the Memorial Tournament by two shots.

Perry has been on the brink of winning for several weeks now, having contended at the Players Championship before a final round of 81, and then finishing runner up to Ryuji Imada at the AT&T Championship two weeks ago.

Perry has made his last 14 cuts on the PGA Tour but winning is what it is all about at his level and importantly his victory will all but ensure him of a place in this year’s Ryder Cup in his home state of Kentucky.

Perry made mention of the extra motivation he had been given recently when US Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger, suggested that he would consider Perry for the this year’s team only if he was to win an event.

“It changed my thinking on things,” said Perry after his win had been confirmed today.

The 47-year-old knew he was playing well but realised he needed to convert that form into a winning result if he was to achieve his dream of playing at Vahalla in September.

There was no better place for him to do just that than at Muirfield Village where Perry has been a winner twice previously and regularly a top finisher. With Goggin going backwards early in his round, Perry quickly assumed control with an outward nine of 33 and at 8 under he stood one clear of Justin Rose and two clear of Mike Weir, Jerry Kelly and Mathew Goggin.

Goggin, looking for his first win on the PGA Tour, stumbled out of the gates and by the turn his three shot overnight lead had disappeared and he trailed by two. He dropped another shot at the 10th and fell three behind but to his credit Goggin was able to stop the rot with a birdie at the 12th and although he bogeyed the 17th he was managed to hole a 20 foot birdie putt at the last and share second.

Goggin equalled his previous best finish on the PGA Tour, which came at the 2006 Western Open when he finished runner up to Trevor Immelman, but there have been plenty of signs this season that another big week was not too far away.

He led for much of the event this week but was unable to finish it off and although he will be disappointed in that respect, it gave evidence that he is nearing the peak of his game. Goggin will attempt US Open qualifying tomorrow and hopefully his good run of form can continue.

Mike Weir seems to be finding his feet once again, this just his second top ten of the season, while for Justin Rose that elusive first USPGA Tour victory escaped him once again.

Geoff Ogilvy continues his improvement in form, adding a 9th place finish just ten days short of the US Open. Ogilvy may well be peaking at just the right time and the 2006 Champion could again be a significant factor at Torrey Pines.

Nick O’Hern and Robert Allenby finished in a share of 10th, Nathan Green, Rod Pampling and Stuart Appleby were 20th, Richard Green 46th, Aaron Baddeley 58th and John Senden 67th.

Several of these players, more especially Mathew Goggin, Nick O’Hern, Nathan Green, John Senden and possibly Richard Green will head to their respective venues for final US Open qualifying tomorrow looking to claim a place at Torrey Pines on June 12th.