Don't count me out Parry fires way into contention with tournament-low 67 Click here for more on this story Posted: Saturday July 17, 1999 01:35 PM   Parry: "This time I just want to relax and play my game." AP CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (Reuters) -- When Craig Parry led the U.S. Masters after three rounds in 1992 it all proved too much and he fell away to finish tied 13th. Though he may not lead the British Open at the end of Saturday he will certainly be not far off at five over par after his third round 67 and will hope for a better final this time. The Australian's 4 under round was the best recorded in the opening three days at Carnoustie and was all the more impressive alongside the burgeoning totals of those all around him. Parry was three under for the front nine after birdies at three, four and six and battled home with three more birdies and two bogies in one his best rounds for years. It was difficult not to look back at 1992 when he led the way at Augusta but had a poor final round alongside eventual champion Fred Couples. The American crowds gave Parry a tough time that day as they willed their own man to victory but he said he had no such problems at Carnoustie. "The galleries have been great and I've probably been helped by playing with Tiger [Woods] on the first two days," he said. "They haven't moved on my putts, seemed to know how I was doing and gave me a lot of support. There seemed to be a lot of Aussies out there too." Parry, 32, said he had learned from his Masters experience. "Hopefully I can finish off the job," he said. "When I led the Masters I was a little bit young, not knowing what would happen and maybe there was too much expectation. "This time I just want to relax and play my game. It depends on what the leaders do later today but I can win it," he added. The stocky Australian, nicknamed Popeye because of his massive forearms, has been improving with each day's play. He finished third in the Scottish Open here in 1995 and was looking forward to returning. "I like links golf and I've had a long apprenticeship," he said. "I always knew someone was capable of going round in a low round. "I played terribly on the first day and tried to hang in there on the second. Then today was one of the best rounds I've ever played. I'm only 5'6" but I felt about 6ft out there." Parry described his 224-yard one iron approach to six foot on the par five sixth as one of the best shots he has played for a long time while his five-iron to six foot on the par-three 16th was his "shot of the day" He has led the U.S. tour in driving and backed himself on Saturday by using the driver six times on a course where most players have rarely dared risk it. It was an attacking policy that paid off handsomely and proved that Carnoustie can be played the way it was meant to be played. "There's no point in complaining about the course," he said. "You just have to play what's in front of you. "Someone is going to walk away with their name on the trophy."   Related information 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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