Golf: Cambo relying on mental coach for comeback

PERTH - After a dismal first round putting display golfer Michael Campbell is hoping to get back into contention on day two of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

His mental coach, Nick Hastings, is relying on the "Marty McFly Effect" - how he describes the technique he employs when working with the reigning US Open champion. The McFly family featured in the 1985 hit movie Back to the Future and staring Michael J Fox.

"It's all about taking him back to occasions when he performed well, and that includes various aspects like ball-striking and putting," said Hastings.

"After his first round today, we talked about his best putting rounds and they were the third and fourth round of last year's victorious US Open.

"What I am trying to do is to wake up bits of the brain that were very alive when he performed well.

"I am just squeezing the juice out because when Cambo is playing well, he is the best player in the world.

"Though today's round, despite a number of three putts, was not about Cambo falling into bad habits but just a bit of rust."

Hastings spent nearly an hour with Campbell following yesterday's indifferent level par 72 Vines course score that included five three-putts among the 32 putts taken by Campbell.

Campbell ended the opening day of the tri-sanctioned event in a distant share of 67th place and eight strokes behind the leading duo of defending champion, Adam Scott of Australia and American Kevin Stadler.

Rookie professional, Bradley Iles of Papamoa starts the second round as the best of the New Zealand contingent after his opening round of 68 that included the 22-year-old birdieing five of his inward nine holes.

"That's my third 68 since turning pro and I could not have hit the ball any better over the last nine," he said.

Japan-Tour based David Smail, competing in only his second event this year, carded a two-under-par 70 despite his clubs not arriving on a Monday flight from Dubai.

"My clubs didn't turn up till 10.30pm on Tuesday night so it meant no practice round on Tuesday and I am just so pleased that Wayne Grady had to withdraw from yesterday's pro-am, as it gave me a chance to play the course with my own clubs," said Smail.

"I hadn't played for about seven weeks and also after missing the cut in Dubai, I was really lacking competition and just felt so rusty."

- NZPA