Golf: Campbell chases European order of merit title

New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell has returned to Europe with the goal of finishing No 1 on the European Tour order of merit.

Campbell travelled on the same flight from China to Britain as Retief Goosen, who relegated Campbell into second place by six shots in the China Masters on Sunday.

After spending Monday night in their respective homes in Britain, Campbell and Goosen where soon back at the airport en route to Cologne, Germany, for the German Masters starting on Thursday.

Campbell won the German tournament in 2000 when heavy rain on the final day reduced the tournament to three rounds.

"I can remember my win of five years ago here in Cologne as it is still fresh in my mind," he said.

"I shot 68, 64 and 65 and was one shot ahead of Jose Coceres when play was halted.

"So it's always a great feeling coming back to a tournament and a venue where you've won and here I am coming back to the tournament as the current US Open champion so a lot has changed in five years.

"So being labelled a major winner is always nice and the expectations will be high this week."

Campbell presently leads the European order of merit with tournament income of 1,775,372 euro ($3,187,382), 217,762 euro ahead of Goosen.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie is also in frame for an eighth order of Merit success, sitting third just 10,921 euro behind Goosen.

Campbell, Goosen and Montgomerie each has three to four events remaining before the issue is decided at the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain on October 27-30.

Campbell makes no secret of the fact that the order of merit crown is one he covets.

"It has always been one of my goals when I joined the European Tour in 1995 to win an order of merit and that is my strong goal over the next couple of months," he said.

"It would cap off a really good year for me on top of winning the US Open but it's pretty tight at the top at present with Retief breathing right down my neck.

"But it has been a great last half of the season so far and I want to cap it off by winning the number one in Europe title."

Goosen headed the European moneylist in both in 2001 and 2002 and was second last year behind compatriot Ernie Els, the European No 1 in 2003 and 2004.

- NZPA