Perry threepeats at the Memorial; Ryder Cup in focus
Kenny Perry joined Tiger Woods as the only three-time winner of the Memorial, taking a big step toward joining the No. 1 player in the world on the Ryder Cup team this fall.
With every contender in full retreat on the back nine, the 47-year-old Perry surged ahead with pars and one timely birdie, coasting to a 3-under-par 69 and a two-shot victory at Dublin, Ohio, yesterday.
He also answered US captain Paul Azinger's statement that anyone making his Ryder Cup team would almost certainly have to win on tour this year.
Perry, who squandered two chances in the previous three weeks, delivered his best golf of the year.
He finished at 8-under 280, the highest winning score at the Memorial in 23 years. Perry earned $1.08 million for his 10th career victory, which translates to 1,080 points toward the Ryder Cup, moving him up to No. 5 in the standings.
Perry took the lead with a birdie on the ninth hole and never gave it up. He effectively secured victory with a 5-wood to 12 feet on the par-5 15th, giving him a three-shot lead.
Third-round leader Mathew Goggin lost his three-shot advantage in three holes and stumbled home to a 74, tied for second with former Masters champion Mike Weir, Justin Rose and Jerry Kelly, all of whom closed with a 71.
LPGA - Sophie Gustafson's stunning collapse and Karrie Webb's short playoff miss opened the way for Seon Hwa Lee to come from nine shots back and win the Ginn Tribute at Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Lee two-putted from about 45 feet for par on the playoff hole, the 18th, then watched Hall of Famer Webb miss a 3-footer that would have extended the playoff at RiverTowne Country Club.
Lee shot 67 for her third LPGA title. She earned $390,000, one of the richest prizes in women's golf.
Holding a six-shot lead when the day began, Gustafson had five bogeys and two double bogeys in her last 15 holes for a 79.
Tournament host Annika Sorenstam tied for 32d.
Curtis Cup - The Americans won for the sixth straight time with the perfect ending - the clinching point was won by Stacy Lewis and the final point came from Alison Walshe of Westford.
Both were simply perfect at the home of golf - St. Andrews, Scotland.
Lewis, the former NCAA champion from Arkansas, became the first player in the 76-year history of the matches to go 5-0. Walshe went undefeated in three matches, winning the last point on the 18th hole for a 13-7 US victory.
Ladies' European - South Korean teenager Amy Yang shot a 5-under 67 to win the German Open at Munich by four strokes, and Michelle Wie had a solid final round (67) to finish sixth.
European - Scott Strange got his first Tour victory by leading the Wales Open from start to finish, shooting a 7-under 64 to win by four strokes.
Champions - Jay Haas shot a 6-under 65 to repeat as champion of the Principal Charity Classic at West Des Moines. Kirk Hanefeld of Acton finished tied for fifth.
Futures - Mindy Kim shot 73 for a three-shot win at the Aurora Health Care Championship in Lake Geneva, Wis. Briana Vega of North Andover shot 74 and fell into a four-way tie for second.
