Parry wins after amazing playoff eagle

Australia's Craig Parry holed out from 176 yards on the first playoff hole to defeat Scott Verplank and win the Doral Championship on Sunday.

Parry and Verplank each finished the 72 holes on 17-under-par 271. Parry had a 68 in the final round and Verplank a 67.

In the playoff, Parry found the fairway off the 18th tee, while Verplank was in the rough on the right side 219 yards from the hole.

Playing first, Verplank hit a long iron that found the green and stopped about 30 feet from the hole.

Parry hit a six-iron that landed just short and right of the hole, then rolled to the left and into the cup for an eagle two.

"That was an indescribable shot," Verplank said.

"If you do that, you're supposed to win."

It was the second time Parry had claimed victory after holding the 54-hole lead.

"I think this is now not a fluke," Parry said after winning his second PGA Tour title.

"I won't say anyone could win once but to win twice, it means that you're able to play on the tour, I think."

Parry won his first PGA Tour title -- the WGC-NEC Invitational -- from a similar position at Sahalee Country Club in 2002. It was an event Verplank remembered vividly.

"Before the tournament (at Sahalee) started, I was having a beer with him and he told me that this was the last tournament he was playing over here," Verplank said.

"And he was serious. I said, 'Well, what are you going to do, just go retire?'

"So he wins the tournament. So I keep asking him when he's going to retire... sure enough, I run into him again today and he wouldn't retire."

Verplank had gained a share of the lead at the 17th hole when he hit a 155-yard nine-iron from a fairway bunker that rolled to within two feet of the cup.

Verplank holed the putt for a tie on 17-under with Parry.

South Africa's Retief Goosen finished one shot back on 272 after closing with a 66 in the final round, and Joe Durant placed fourth on 273 with a 68.

European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer shot a seven-under 65 and finished on 274. Joining the German in a tie for fifth were Korea's K.J. Choi, David Toms and Gene Sauers.

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