Golf: Campbell celebrates euro return by making open cut

SANDWICH, England - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell's decision to return to the European tour was rewarded today when he made it for the final two rounds of the British Open championship.

Campbell shot a second round 72 to make the eight over par cut mark of 150 on the Royal St George's course. Compatriots Craig Perks and David Smail failed to make the cut after totalling 155 and 160, respectively.

It is only the fourth time in nine attempts that Campbell will contest the weekend rounds at golf's oldest major.

Campbell started his round at seven-over-par following Thursday's opening score of 78 and despite a bogey at the second hole, he advanced up the board with birdies at the fourth, fifth and seventh holes.

He had a chance for an eagle three on the seventh but his attempt from just over three metres slid past the hole.

After a bogey at the 11th and then a birdie at the 13th, he dropped three strokes in succession from the 14th hole.

But despite dropping a hat trick of shots, Campbell walked from the scorer's hut just after lunch quietly pleased with his effort, less than a month after deciding to move back to competing full time on the European Tour.

"I got off to a good start and held it for a while before making three bogeys in a row at 14, 15 and 16 but besides that, the last couple of days has been very encouraging," he said.

"I was just cruising along over the front nine and it was just a couple of mental errors that cost me a better score.

"But with still half the field to tee off I think I might just have done enough to make it through and it would be nice to play all four rounds.

"I have been pretty pleased with myself to tough out these first two days considering I came into the Open with no real form at all."

Perks, in contrast, was heading back to the United States bitterly disappointed with his efforts.

He was contesting the second of four British Opens he has been afforded entry after winning last year's Players' Championship.

The 36-year-old from Palmerston North added a six-over par 77 to his opening 78 to miss the cut by five shots.

Perks had managed to pick up two strokes through 10 holes but then dropped eight strokes over the next eight holes.

"It's very disappointing the way I played this week," he said. "I played well through 12 holes but then fell apart over the remaining handful of holes.

"I just need to get away from the game for a week and reflect on my performance this week.

"It's just so hard to talk about it because it's all pretty disappointing and not what I was expecting at all this week."

Perks will take the week before heading from his Louisiana home to Flint, Michigan, venue for the Buick Open beginning July 31.

He knows he'll need a top finish there to earn a place in the US PGA Championship beginning August 14.

"That was another big thing about this British Open because if I played well I could have got myself into the PGA field," he said.

"Now that I have played a lot of majors, it's the majors you want to play in and not the regular tour events.

"They're a way different level of competition and the whole atmosphere is completely different and the more you play in, the better your game is."

Smail's second British Open also ended in despair with the Hamilton golfer carding rounds of 77 and 83.

Smail had but one birdie, at the 14th on day two, to show on his two scorecards.

- NZPA