Michael Campbell made just his third cut in 13 events this season. Photo / AP
SOUTHPORT - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell ended a miserable run of six successive missed cuts to ensure his place over the weekend rounds of the British Open at Royal Birkdale today.
Campbell added a four-over-par 74 to his opening score of 75 to sit right on the
cut mark in a share of 69th place at nine-over 149.
He was 10 shots behind the leader, Korea's KJ Choi at the halfway mark.
It marked just the third occasion in 13 events this season that Campbell's name will appear in weekend draw sheets of a tour event.
His compatriot David Smail was not so fortunate, a second consecutive round of 76 ensuring he had an early return home to his base in Japan.
Campbell had a long, long wait before learning he had survived the cut.
He completed his round near lunchtime (local time) when it looked more than likely that he would miss the cut, before the afternoon scores ballooned slightly to enable him to sneak into the weekend.
The 2005 US Open champion was a relieved man.
"It's a great confidence booster to make the cut because these have been two pretty tough days," ' said.
"I spent a bit of time after the first round on my putting and that seemed to help as I had 28 putts compared to 31 the first day.
"But this is a nice reward for all my effort as all you can do out there, for the most part, was just try and hang in there and just not loose your patience."
Royal Birkdale was again buffeted by strong winds today which made scoring difficult.
"A 74 today is probably even par because it's a tough test of golf and if you are not on your game you get penalised," ' said.
"The dropped shots just get magnified, if you tweak it slight left or right it will get really pushed away in that direction."
Like Campbell, Smail struggling mid-round, dropping shots at nine and 10 then taking a double bogey at the par-four 11th hole.
Smail has now missed the halfway cut in three of five British Opens starting from 2001.
- NZPA
