Golf: Campbell takes low key route in steamy south

DULUTH - New Zealander Michael Campbell has maintained a low-key build-up leading into the United States PGA Championship in Atlanta.

Campbell, ranked No 15 in the world, and Grant Waite, ranked 101, are the only New Zealanders contesting the season-closing major.

Campbell boosted his hopes when he ended a run of four missed cuts in the majors at last month's British Open.

It will be Campbell's fourth US PGA and his 16th major appearance in an eight-year professional career.

He arrived in the Georgia capital last weekend with his young family and slowly became acclimatised to the sauna-like conditions set to prevail for the Atlanta tournament.

Ninety-four of the world's top 100 ranked golfers will compete for the famed Rodman Wanamaker Trophy, first won in 1916.

Yesterday, thousands of fans were again at the course, the PGA of America having long ago posted the "sold out" sign that will guarantee 33,000 a day around the lengthy 6595m Atlanta layout.

It includes a 448m finishing hole over water that has already been the subject of controversy.

Campbell first ventured on to the course on Monday to play nine holes in the company of Sweden's Robert Karlsson and yesterday was out early to play the back nine.

"The course is great and pretty strong, with the last five being very strong," Campbell said.

"The last is very tough and you're going to need a super tee shot and then an awfully good three-iron shot to clear the water. It's a very challenging golf course whilst the speed of the greens is not that fast which is rather strange when it's so tough tee-to-green.

"But compared to Augusta, Southern Hills and Royal Lytham where we have played the majors this year, I think this is already my favourite."

Campbell again arranged for Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout to join him in Atlanta.

His costs are being divided between Campbell, Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and the South African double of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

"Obviously, I want to do well this week and I've come here to win and if I didn't think that way I'm wasting my time," Campbell said.

He will be out in the eighth group from the 10th tee (12.40 am NZT tomorrow) and is grouped with Clarke and American Scott Verplank.

The American was the winner of the individual title for the lowest four-round total in the 1998 World Cup of Golf at Gulf Harbour in Whangaparaoa.

The trio will tee off just five minutes before the star threesome of Tiger Woods (Masters champion), Goosen (US Open winner) and David Duval (British Open champion) begin their round from the first tee.

Waite is in a trio with Americans Glen Woods and James Blair and tees off at 6.20 am tomorrow.

- NZPA