Golf: Bunkers a worry but wind the real enemy

ST ANDREWS - New Zealand's Michael Campbell believes the fierce Scottish winds will play a bigger part than the 112 bunkers in deciding the winner of the 129th British Open, which starts tonight.

The New Zealand No 1 has been in the best form of his life this year and is confident he will be up with the leaders if the brutal winds hold off.

"If it blows too hard it will be a lottery," Campbell said during a rest day yesterday.

The 31-year-old comes into the tournament No 5 on the European Order of Merit and almost certain of improving on last year's British Open effort when he shot rounds of 79 and 77 before missing the cut.

"The fairways are running very fast - that makes it more like an Open course, not like an American course."

Campbell is playing better and more consistent golf five years on from his dramatic third place finish, and has a wiser head on his shoulders.

"I'm excited about coming back here. It will be great to look down the first fairway on the Burn No 1 hole. It will bring back a lot of memories of 1995."

And Campbell would like to reproduce the same miracle shot from the 17th Road hole bunker, though at practice this week he took six shots to get out of it.

"I remember playing in the final group five years ago. I saw a sea of people who were roped off from the course, the grandstands were full. It was great.

"But I feel I am more level-headed now. I have put things in perspective. I am more experienced and I am a more complete player. I'll be happy this week if I can put together four good rounds.

"But the best players in the world are all here. Ernie [Els] is playing well, you can't go past Monty [Colin Montgomerie] and Tiger [Woods] is the red hot favourite. It's hard to single anyone out."

Because of the winds it could come down to the luck of the draw, Campbell said. An early morning tee off time might produce a better score than later in the day when it tended to blow harder.

Campbell is to tee off with John Daly in the last third of players in round one early tomorrow morning, and is among the first away in round two.

Unlike last year, he hasn't had to qualify due to his European tour wins this season.

Campbell and the 1963 Open winner Bob Charles are the only New Zealanders in the Open this year after Greg Turner failed to qualify and Frank Nobilo did not try.

Bookmakers have Campbell at odds of 40-1 with Woods hot favourite on 2-1 and Els, Montgomerie and Lee Westwood all 14-1.

The New Zealander was ninth at Loch Lomond, the traditional warm-up tournament.

- NZPA