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LONDON - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell is confidently heading high into the Swiss Alps after stringing together two top-10 finishes on the European Tour for the first time in nearly five years.
Campbell's share of 10th place in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland yesterday marked his second top-10 this year after he finished tied for eighth last week in the Dutch Open.
That means there is certainly a spring back in Campbell's step as he heads to Switzerland for the European Masters starting on Thursday.
He last put together successive top-10 results in late 2003 and early 2004 at the Hong Kong Open and the Heineken Classic in Melbourne.
The upswing in Campbell's fortunes follows his making the cut in the last two majors of the year, the British Open in July and the PGA Championship in the United States last month.
"I've certainly turned a big corner really since the British Open, and it's just been a matter of staying patient," Campbell said.
"My efforts in the Dutch Open and now to finish 10th at Gleneagles just shows me that all my hard work is starting to pay off.
"My game is very solid and it's been great to be in the final few groups on a Sunday for a second week running."
Campbell has not won a strokeplay event since his famous victory at the 2005 US Open, but he feels it is only a matter of time.
"I've also missed winning but now after these two weeks it's all just a matter of where rather than when."
"So I'm looking forward very much to heading to Switzerland and hopefully coming back down the mountain with the winning trophy."
His result in Scotland lifted Campbell's tournament earnings in Europe this season to 118,429 euro ($252,783), placing him 153rd on the moneylist.
He needs to be inside the top 60 by October 26 to be assured of contesting the season-ending Volvo Master in Spain.
- NZPA
