Golf: Campbell out to survive on Hazeltine

Michael Campbell has shaken off a shoulder injury and is looking forward to this week's US PGA Championship in Minneapolis. Photo / Getty Images

CHASKA, Minnesota - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell cut a lonesome but quietly confident figure at the far end of the Hazeltine practice range, venue for this week's US PGA Championship.

There was no coach, no "mind man" and no manager.

Just Campbell and his caddy, Pete Coleman, hitting balls amid calls of "Good luck, Michael" from the crowd some 3m away, behind metal fencing.

Campbell will tee-up on Thursday in suburban Minneapolis in his 12th US PGA Championship since making his debut in 1995 at the Riviera club in Los Angeles. His best showing at the championship is a share of sixth, four years ago at Baltusrol in New Jersey.

"The good thing about the Majors ... is that it almost can be easier to get yourself in position to do well, more so than a regular tournament," Campbell said.

"In a normal tournament, you're out to make as many birdies as you can and shoot a decent score.

"But on a golf course like Hazeltine it's going to be hard chasing birdies because a bad shot here and there can cost you two or three strokes."

Campbell arrived in Minnesota also having broken his long run of missed cuts by playing all four rounds of last month's Scandinavian Masters.

It was the first occasion since last October's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, even if Campbell did post unconvincing rounds of 78, 70, 73 and 79 in Sweden.

"It was good to finally play all four rounds as it had been such a long time since I played over the weekend," he said.

"It was a decent performance given my results earlier this season and I can take some confidence from playing all four days in Sweden."

Confident he has shaken off a shoulder injury that has hindered him for nine months, Campbell is ready for the long fairways at Hazeltine.

"Some of the par fours, like the first, fifth and the last are nudging close to 500 yards (457m) while the 12th is just over 500 yards off the back tee.

"Then there's the par-five seventh which is measuring 572-yards so I can't see anyone, except for a handful of guys like Angel (Cabrera) and Alvaro (Quiros), taking on the green in two as it's guarded by water down the left side.

"So that's a very risky hole.

"Most players like myself try to make our score on the par fives, but that's going to be hard this week, just because they are playing so long."

Campbell intends winding up his practice with another early round on Wednesday.

"I flew over from London direct to Minneapolis on the weekend but I've found myself waking up very early, so it's been early morning rounds for Pete and myself all week," he said.

"We were out early today and it's just amazing how many people get up early to come out and watch the practice rounds."

Campbell is looking forward to the first two days of the championship as he is competing alongside good friend, Shaun Micheel, winner of the 2003 US PGA.

"Shaun and I are great mates and it's going to be fun playing alongside him for two days," Campbell said.

"We're both into Kiss so we're going to have a lot to talk about."

The other member of his opening two round group is American Mark Brooks, winner of the US PGA in 1996.

- NZPA