Perry vaults up leaderboard to 3rd place finish

Kenny Perry began the U.S. Open as the hottest player on the PGA Tour and ended it on Sunday in a tie for third place after shooting the lowest score in the final round.

The 42-year-old American, winner of back-to-back titles at Colonial and Memorial in his last two starts, fired an impressive three-under-par 67 in the toughest conditions of the week, when the average score climbed to 73.031.

"I played great today," Perry said, after finishing level with Mike Weir at one-under 279.

"I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and I could have actually shot four- or five-under.

"I three-putted from 15 feet on 14, and I got too aggressive coming in.

"I kept running them (approach putts) way by, but I made the come-backers except for that hole."

Perry's share of third was his second-best finish in a major, eclipsed only by his playoff defeat to Mark Brooks in the 1996 U.S. PGA championship at Valhalla.

"But it's my best Open ever, so I'm going in the right direction," he said.

In six previous U.S. Open starts, Kentucky professional Perry had missed the cut twice with a best placing of joint-25th at Baltusrol in 1993.

"I thought I'd do real well this week," he added. "I'm still seeing the same shots I was seeing at Colonial and Memorial.

"My swing is in the same rhythm and I've got the same ideas in my head.

"I never go into a golf tournament and say I'm going to beat this guy or that guy. I just go in and prepare and play the best I can play -- and whatever happens, happens.

"I'm not putting pressure on myself any more. I relax and I enjoy the game."

The Perry recipe certainly worked for him in the 103rd U.S. Open at Olympia Fields Country Club.