It’s been a difficult rookie season on the PGA Tour Champions for Craig Parry but he got off on the right foot at last week’s Nature Valley First Tee Open in California.

An impressive opening 68 at the difficult Pebble Beach layout had the Australian legend just two shots off the pace and in a share of fourth with 36 to play.

But as he has for much of the year, Parry struggled to maintain the good form over the final two rounds, his day two 79 at Poppy Hills a particularly disappointing result.

After posting four birdies in his first round the 1992 Australian PGA Champion struggled from the outset on day two with a bogey at the first and never recovered.

He matched his four birdies from day one in the final round at Pebble Beach but stumbled with five bogies and a double to shoot 75 and eventually finish T65.

With just five full field events left for the season Parry will need something special if he is to retain his playing rights for 2017 as he is well outside the top 30 on the Charles Schwab Cup race who keep their cards.