Parry’s confidence soaring after eclipsing Woods at Merion

Parry finished in a tie for 28th at the US Open – one shot clear of world No 1 Woods – on his major championship debut. It was a creditable achievement given the US Open is renowned as being the toughest of golf’s big four.

Financially, such a strong finish has transformed what had hitherto been a season of under-achievement.

The 26-year-old from Harrogate had been languishing in the lower reaches of the Order of Merit having amassed only 47,080 euros (£39,968) in prize money from 12 tournaments.

But his 12-over-par total at Merion doubled his season’s earnings, with Parry pocketing 46,032 euros (£39,078) and climbing from 160th on the money list to 112th.

The top 110 retain their cards for next season, which is the minimum Parry is hoping for in his first season back on the European Tour. Much more than money and status, Parry’s experience in Pennsylvania gave him untold confidence.

“Just one look at the leaderboard as I completed my fourth round told the story of how happy I felt with my first appearance,” said Parry, who qualified for the US Open at Walton Heath last month.

“It was some of the names below me that really made me smile. Tiger Woods, who played in the group in front of myself, and Padraig Harrington were on 13 over par, a shot behind me.

“Rory McIlroy was behind me with three holes to play, as was this year’s Masters winner Adam Scott.”

Parry carded weekend rounds of 72 73 to climb more than 25 places up the leaderboard.

He began Saturday morning requiring pars on the final two holes of his second round to ensure he made the cut, only to go one better than that by birdieing the ninth – his penultimate hole – to sign for a 71.

That was two shots inside the margin and over the weekend he built on that with four birdies against nine bogeys.

The fact that Parry never registered anything worse than a bogey over 72 treacherous holes, while many of the game’s best players failed to show such control, spoke volumes for his performance.

“Merion examined every department of my golf game,” reflected a mentally-drained Parry, who now heads to Munich to play the BMW International Open.

“I lost count of how many times I faced downhill putts of 10 to 20 feet just hoping to get to within four or five feet of the hole, and I could not even relax when I had a sand wedge in my hand.

“But for all the tiredness, I will look back on a brilliant week and a great experience that has given me the hunger for more like it in the future.”