Perry charges to Memorial victory

DUBLIN, Ohio (Reuters) - Kenny Perry produced a near flawless final round to win the Memorial Tournament by two shots and jump to fifth in the American Ryder Cup standings on Sunday.

Perry carded a three-under-par 69 in gusty winds at Muirfield Village to collect his 10th victory on the PGA Tour.

He finished at eight-under 280, two strokes ahead of Canadian Mike Weir (71), Briton Justin Rose (71), American Jerry Kelly (71) and Australian Mathew Goggin (74).

Goggin took a three-shot lead in the final round, but surrendered it with two bogeys in the first four holes before settling down to play solidly the rest of the way.

Perry charged to the front with a brilliant front nine, picking up three birdies, and he was never headed coming home, his only blemish a bogey at the par-four 17th, where he missed a five-foot putt.

"It was probably one of the greatest rounds I remember in a long time, playing in tough conditions," the 47-year-old told reporters after becoming only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event three times.

"I shot three-under on the front nine, and it could have been six-under. I had it close on every hole. My iron shots were precise.

"I've had an unbelievable month. I'm hitting my driver terrific, my irons are on the money and I've got great touch with the putter."

Perry, who collected $1,080,000 to vault to fifth on the PGA Tour money list, has an extra incentive to make the Ryder Cup team for the September showdown against Europe, because it will be played at Valhalla in his home state of Kentucky.

POOR START

Goggin, meanwhile, was disappointed with his poor start, but proud of the way he fought back, a birdie at the last earning him a tie for second, instead of fifth place.

"I learnt I have a little bit of character and was able to pull through after a shocking start and not completely throw the thing in the toilet," he said.

"I played well enough, but the first four holes were just rubbish. It just took me four holes to calm down, and that was the difference."

Weir was tied with Perry at the turn but consecutive bogeys at the 10th and 11th holes, where he misjudged the wind with his approach shots, proved costly.

Rose made successive bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes and a birdie at the par-five 15th proved too little, too late as he chased his first tour victory.

"I felt like I was hitting decent putts, but I just didn't quite have the confidence in the read today," he said. (Editing by Ed Osmond)