Golf: Campbell out to bury ghosts

DUBLIN - Michael Campbell heads to this week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond searching for golf's high road after his dramatic European Open victory yesterday.

Campbell survived late-round jitters to win a fifth European Tour title, despite bogeying the closing four holes on the K Club course, south of Dublin.

New Zealand's top-ranked golfer had just enough of a leading margin to hang on for the win. His six-under-par 282 total after a final-round 73 denied Irish crowd favourite Padraig Harrington, who ended in a four-way tie for second, one stroke behind Campbell.

Campbell claimed his 13th win worldwide and ended a winless 18-month spell. It also bumped him to world No 16, up from No 27. The first prize cheque of £333,330 ($NZ1,056,500) was the richest of Campbell's nine-year professional career, but the win came with worries.

Campbell was found wanting when it counted. After leading by five strokes with four holes to play, he should have easily shut out his rivals.

It is the first occasion a New Zealand golfer has won the title in the 25-year history of the event, but Campbell will need to strengthen his mental approach ahead of next week's British Open at Muirfield.

"I was cruising along with four holes to play and saying to myself, 'This is it, I've got the trophy in one arm', but unfortunately it wasn't in the other," he said.

"I think I let my emotions get too far ahead of myself and I made some ridiculous mistakes, but I just managed to get there in time to pip four other guys.

"Obviously, I am elated that I won but disappointed with the way I finished."

South African Retief Goosen finished a shot back with Scotland's Paul Lawrie, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Harrington. He had finished 10 groups ahead of Campbell and was already at Dublin Airport and heading back to London after birdieing four of his last seven holes in a round of 68.

At the time, Campbell was five strokes ahead at 10 under par through 13 holes. Goosen departed the Irish course laughing off the likelihood of a play-off.

"I'm headed straight for the airport, so I just hope Cambo doesn't make a mess of it because I can't come back," he joked.

Campbell first opened the door for his rivals when he three-putted the par four 15th for bogey. The door was wide open when he bogeyed for the third straight occasion on the 17th.

A record Irish gathering thought they had themselves a home winner when Campbell dunked his second shot at the last into a greenside water hazard. It was only when Harrington followed him into the water that the advantage swung back in Campbell's favour.

Harrington managed par while Campbell played to the green with his fourth, then two-putted for a bogey and the win.

"I will learn from the last couple of hours and become a better player for it," Campbell said.

"While winning golf tournaments is huge for my confidence for the next two weeks, there is room for improvement. I need to improve another 20 to 30 per cent."

That process begins today when Campbell meets Florida-based coach Jonathon Yarwood in London.

"Under the gun the bad swings came out of the closet over those last four holes," Campbell said. "I have to iron out the creases or faults."

Past demons in the closet include the 1995 British Open, when he led going into the final round at St Andrews but carded a closing round 76 to finish third behind John Daly.

"I still think about what happened in 1995. I had my chance to win the Open and I still think about it. If you don't you are not human.

"If I were to win the Open this year I will never have to think about 1995. All my demons or ghosts would be buried.

"I was 26 back then and it was my first year on the European Tour ...

"I was shunted into the limelight from being this quiet Maori boy from Hawera to this superstar of golf. I didn't like it, to be honest. I didn't like the attention.

"But I have been always thinking about that British Open and other tournaments and always trying to learn from my bad experiences or good experiences."

Campbell heads to the British Open with the knowledge that he has made the halfway cut in a major just twice in his last 10 appearances.

"That's really bugged. I think my attitude has been wrong and I go out too hard. I get really tense and think about making the cut rather than winning the tournament," he said.

"I am relaxed on the European Tour, but it seems when I go to the States to play the majors my muscles tense up, and it shouldn't be that way.

"I'm good enough to win a major. I have competed against the best in the world. I've beaten them a few times and I have the game to win a major.

"It is more of a mindset with me. My mindset majors-wise isn't that great so it is time to rectify a few things and have the right attitude."

- NZPA