Golf: Campbell comes up short

US Open champion Michael Campbell hit a career high despite falling short of his goal at the Volvo Masters in Spain today.

The New Zealander finished 14th in the European season-ending event at Sotogrande after a closing round of one-over-par 72 left him on three-under 281, seven shots behind the winner, Ireland's Paul McGinley.

It left Campbell second on the European Tour's moneylist, with tournament income for the year of 2,496,269 euros ($NZ4,357,252).

He entered the Volvo Masters needing victory or a very high finish to have any chance of overtaking Scotsman Colin Montgomerie, who thwarted Campbell by finishing third equal.

Montgomerie lifted his season's earnings to 2,794,223 euros to win a record eighth European Order of Merit Title.

But it was Campbell's best year on the European Tour since he began playing there in 1994.

His previous best placing in the Order of Merit was fourth, in 2000 when he won three times.

Campbell's career-best ranking in Europe was achieved a day after he expressed a desire to become a British citizen.

- NZPA