Parnevik Rallies To Win Hope

In his 10 previous victories around the world, Jesper Parnevik had never won a nail-biter like he faced Sunday. It couldn't have come in a more appropriate tournament than the Bob Hope Classic.

His father is one of the most popular comedians in Sweden, and Bob Hope was among Bo Parnevik's favorite. The 96-year-old tournament host settled into his seat behind the 18th green just in time to see a stylish finish to a slapstick show.

Parnevik rallied from three strokes down, then blew a two-shot lead. He thought about a 59 and started hitting shots like someone shooting 79. He hit a spectator in the head with one of his drives. And he had to save his trademark victory cigar for the driving range, not the 18th green.

In the closing scene, Parnevik made a two-putt birdie on the final hole to win the Hope Classic by one shot over Rory Sabbatini.

"It was a little more interesting than I wanted it to be, but that's just how I do things," said the zany Swede who wears retro clothing, the bill of his cap flipped up and has been known to eat volcanic dirt to cleanse his system.

Parnevik closed with a 6-under 65 his 11th consecutive round under par to finish at 331 for his third PGA Tour victory in as many years. The $540,000 check was the largest of his career.

The victory wasn't secure until Sabbatini failed to birdie the par-5 18th at Bermuda Dunes. The 23-year-old South African hit his tee shot under a tree, which kept him from reaching the green in two. He hit his third shot over the palms to 20 feet, but his putt to force a playoff never had a chance.

"I'm not in a situation where I feel like I lost the tournament," he said. "Jesper, he played well under the gun. The more opportunities I have, the less times this will happen."

It was the sixth straight year the Hope Classic was decided by one stroke, and it was the first PGA Tour victory in which Parnevik did not have at least of share of the lead going into the final round.

David Toms and J.L. Lewis each had a 68 to finish at 333.

David Duval, the defending champion who closed with a 59 last year, took himself out of the race early. He didn't make a birdie until the par-5 eighth, made only one birdie on a par-4 and finished with a 69.

Matt Gogel, who started the final round of the 90-hole tournament just one stroke back, didn't make a birdie until the 18th hole. Still, that 25-foot putt made a difference of $18,500.

Sabatini had chances to win the BellSouth Classic and the B.C. Open last year, and felt confident about getting his first PGA Tour victory. It showed on the front nine, where he made birdies on three of the first four holes and went out in 30 with a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth.

Parnevik, playing in a twosome because Stephen Ames withdrew because of a neck and shoulder injury, was the only player to go low with Sabbatini, but he still trailed by two shots going into the final nine holes.

Just like that, he went from chasing to leading.

Sabbatini crushed his approach over the green on No. 10, then lost his focus when a marshal "tried to play soccer with my golf ball."

"He almost stepped on it twice," he said. "From then on, it played on my mind."

He chipped on to 35 feet and two-putted for bogey, then left a 30-foot birdie putt on the next hole some 6 feet short.

Up ahead, Parnevik made a 15-footer on No. 12 to get to 27-under, and then Sabbatini missed his par putt and fell one stroke behind.

"I was cruising along just fine," Parnevik said. "I started thinking, 'Wouldn't it be amazing if I shot 59?' That would be two years in a row."

One problem. Duval never hit lob wedges into bunkers, like Parnevik did on the 14th. Nor did he hit a spectator in the head with a tee shot, which is what the Swede did on the 15th.

"It was awful," Parnevik said. "It looked like he had a big golf ball growing out of his forehead. I asked him if he was going to be OK, and he said, 'Just as long as you win."'

If only it were that simple. Parnevik made another bogey on the 16th to set up his theatrics on the closing hole. He found the fairway with his drive, then hit a 5-wood to 40 feet. The first putt stopped 5 feet short, but Parnevik made the next putt with conviction.

Parnevik was Europe's star in the Ryder Cup and is emerging as one of the top players on tour. He didn't play the last 10 weeks of last year because of an irregular heart beat, but hasn't skipped a beat in three tournaments this year.

He tied for sixth in the Mercedes, tied for third a week later in Honolulu and went to the top of the money list with his victory Sunday.

And perhaps it was fitting that Hope, the 96-year-old tournament host, was looking on. Bo Parnevik never cared for the new comedians who "tell dirty jokes," the son said.

"Bob Hope was always one of his favorite guys," Parnevik said. "He likes that kind of humor."

Parnevik was entertaining in his own way, but he had no complaints about the outcome.

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