Parnevik under fire from Azinger

13 April 2012

Paul Azinger has fired the first shot in the war of words between the United States and Europe Ryder Cup teams.

The American has questioned the tactics of Jesper Parnevik in the Accenture World Match Play Championship won here by Kevin Sutherland on the 36th hole against Scott McCarron.

That will place pressure on the Swede to justify his position in the European squad, especially as the player he beat to one of captain Sam Torrance's two wild card picks is today leading the European Order of Merit.

Jose Maria Olazabal picked up £125,000 for being the only European to make it through to the Match Play quarter-finals. Yet the Spaniard won't feature in the Ryder Cup at The Belfry in September because his form this year - he won the Buick Invitational just down the road at Torrey Pines two weeks ago - is far better than in 2000.

Parnevik got the nod from Torrance because he won on the US Tour last season, and on the strength of his partnership with Ryder Cup rookie Sergio Garcia at Brookline in 1999.

But Parnevik's record in Ryder Cup singles - he lost five and four to Mark O'Meara in 1997 and by the same score to David Duval in 1999 - is not impressive. He was exposed again against Azinger here.

In a possible preview of a singles battle at The Belfry, Azinger, who beat Parnevik in the first round at the La Costa Resort course, recalled how his rival missed the chance to claw back from two-nil down at the 14th.

Both had three foot putts for par and Parnevik suggested they agreed to concede for a half. "I was very surprised," said Azinger. "If I was two down we would have been putting. He was two down and he didn't know how I was feeling, and I wasn't feeling that great."

The implication was that Azinger might have missed his putt, and had Parnevik sunk his he would have been just one in arrears. Like Olazabal, Sutherland won't be at The Belfry. But he can ease any frustrations he might feel by spending his first prize of £720,000.

MORE ABOUT

Accenture

Parnevik under fire from Azinger

Read More