Battling at the British Parnevik fights Open past, allergies at Carnoustie Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday July 16, 1999 03:52 PM   Parnevik was second to Nick Price in the 1994 Open at Turnberry and second again at Royal Troon two years ago. AP CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters) -- Jesper Parnevik holds third place halfway through the British Open after nearly quitting during his second round on Friday because his allergies were tormenting him. The colorful 33-year-old Swede said he had almost pulled out at the sixth hole because of his discomfort amid the hay and long grass of Carnoustie. "My allergies have never been worse, my hand is hurting. I have terrible hay fever. My nose was just dripping all the time and I was just sneezing all the time," he said after shooting a level-par 71. "I had to step away from putts to clean my nose because it was dripping on the ball. I had to time my putts and my shots between my sneezes." He was persuaded to continue by a marshal at the sixth hole who gave him some medicine. "It didn't help much but luckily I birdied the seventh and the eighth," he said. But he has played well in the past when he has been sick, winning the Phoenix Open last year when he was ill with something he had caught from his daughter. Parnevik was second to Nick Price in the 1994 Open at Turnberry and second again at Royal Troon two years ago when Justin Leonard shot a closing 65 to win. "At Troon I have to admit I thought I was going to win, the night before and standing on the first tee," he said. "Then Justin came out and shot 65, a pretty impressive score. "At Turnberry in 1994, to be honest, standing on the first tee my aim was to break 90 -- or 100 -- especially playing with Tom Watson on the last day. "So I feel more comfortable in that situation now," he said. The U.S.-based Swedish eccentric, whose bizarre habits including eating volcanic dust to purge his system, loves playing links golf in Britain. "I love the type of shots you have to hit here, the low, drilling punched type of golf shots. I love the low fades and high draws in the wind. And I love the turf. "I grew up in Sweden playing on wet, muddy ground when the club gets stuck in the ground when you play a shot. "I don't think there's a better feeling or sound when you hit a golf ball anywhere else than on links courses," he said. "It is different from anything else in the world."   Related information Stories Jesper Parnevik British Open Scorecard Van De Velde shoots 68 for lead; Woods in the hunt Pampling becomes first first-round leader to miss cut Cabrera one stroke back after two rounds at Open Monty says he's out of contention after 76 Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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