Aussie golfers ready for success: Parry

Veteran golfer Craig Parry predicts it’s just a matter of time before the floodgates open for Australians at major tournaments, saying the likes of Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day are well placed to break the country’s six-year drought.

Australia hasn’t tasted success at a major since Ogilvy snared the 2006 US Open, although there have been a number of close calls in recent times.

World No.6 Scott, Ogilvy and Day were all in the hunt at the 2011 US Masters before being pipped by a rampaging Charl Schwartzel, while Scott threw away victory at this year’s British Open with a disastrous final four holes.

Scott, Day, Ogilvy and world No.38 John Senden remain Australia’s best chances at the biggest tournaments, while world No.56 Aaron Baddeley also has the talent to shine if everything clicks into gear.

Victorian Parry, who has pocketed $8,481,456 in prize money and snared two PGA Tour wins since turning professional in 1985, felt there were bright skies ahead for Australia’s golfers.

“Australia’s doing very well. You’ve got Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day – these guys are world-class players,” Parry said on Tuesday.

“Scotty was really unlucky this year. It’s just a matter of time. The floodgates will open and there’ll be a heap of major winners.”

Day’s world ranking has slipped to 27 since the birth of his first child in July, with the 25-year-old only recording four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in 2012 compared to 10 last year.

But Parry predicted the 25-year-old would bounce back to form in 2013.

Parry will compete at this week’s $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup, with the October 18-21 event co-sanctioned by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

Also in the field is Schwartzel, who feels no remorse for breaking the hearts of Australian golf fans with his 2011 Masters triumph.

Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to win that event, leaving Scott, Day and Ogilvy in his wake.

“I didn’t think it was cruel,” Schwartzel said with a laugh when asked about his two-shot victory over Day and Scott, with Ogilvy four shots off the pace.

“It was such a tight finish.

“It was always going to come down to someone that made a race to the end there at the last few holes.

“There were 10 guys that could win it. I was the fortunate one to make all of those birdies coming in.”

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