England’s John Parry left nine of Europe’s Ryder Cup side trailing in his wake at St Andrews today in an event he was not qualified for until he won his first European Tour title two weeks ago.
The 23-year-old from Harrogate, a team-mate of Rory McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup at Royal County Down, led the Dunhill Links Championship by four at halfway after a brilliant 65.
“It’s nice to be here and I’ve holed putts from everywhere,” said Parry, who from struggling to keep his card is now on course for a massive first prize of €580,000.
His Vivendi Trophy victory in Paris was worth just over €200,000 and he celebrated that by buying himself a car — not a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Porsche, but a Vauxhall Astra.
“I would have bought something a bit nicer, but I’ve only just learnt to drive, so the insurance companies don’t seem to like me at the minute — and my parking’s not very good.”
Parry turned pro three years ago like McIlroy, but while the Holywood wonder boy was an instant hit he failed to come through the qualifying school and had to go away to the “third division” EuroPro Tour.
“I didn’t have any money at all, but my manager sort of backed me and I think I came out about even,” he said.
From that he earned a place on the Challenge Tour and, thanks to a closing 63 for a win in this same week last year, he graduated from that to the main circuit.
Sweden’s Martin Erlandsson, yet to win on Tour, is in second place after a 68 in equally tough wet, windy, cold and murky conditions at Carnoustie, the hardest of the three courses used for the celebrity pro-am.
Three players are a further stroke back big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Ryder Cup pair Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer. They were all at St Andrews, Fisher having a 68 and both Quiros and Kaymer 69s.
Fisher said: “When we saw the forecast it seemed like this was probably the best of the three courses to be at, but that was about as brutal as I’ve ever seen the back nine play.
“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t feel like my game was ready to win. Obviously the celebrations were pretty good, but I wouldn’t say I feel tired.”
Monday’s match-winning hero Graeme McDowell, playing with his father Kenny, also shot 68 to move up to sixth place on six under, while Pádraig Harrington, Ryder Cup cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn and defending champion Simon Dyson are all five under.
Lee Westwood was bothered again by his injured calf and with a 72 is now 10 back. He requires a top-two finish to grab the world number one spot off Tiger Woods and is just outside the top 30. But his two-under aggregate was still three better than that of McIlroy, who drove into gorse and double-bogeyed the sixth en route to a 74.
“I didn’t make the most of the downwind holes,” said the 21-year-old, less surprised than most about world number 177 Parry being clear out in front.
“It’s taken him maybe a bit longer to develop than some of the other guys (from the Walker Cup three years ago), but he’s a great player and with a win under his belt he’s obviously become a lot more comfortable out in this environment.”
Damien McGrane shot a three under for the tournament after a 69 at St Andrews, while Darren Clarke carded a 67 around the Old Course and lies on one under.
Paul McGinley is alongside McIlroy on one over after a 71, but Peter Lawrie could only manage a 76 at St Andrews to fall back to two over.
Shane Lowry had a horror round of 78 at Carnoustie that included three double-bogeys as he slipped back to three over.