Golf: Campbell takes on Irish crowd in bid for victory

DUBLIN - New Zealand's Michael Campbell faced an overwhelming patriotic Irish golfing crowd as he set off in pursuit of victory in the European Open last night.

Campbell birdied the last hole in a third-round 70 on the K Club course, just south of Dublin, to remain one stroke clear of the trio of Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Scotland's Paul Lawrie and England's Barry Lane.

Campbell started the closing round of the $2m event at seven under par as he chased a first victory since winning last year's Heineken Classic in Australia.

New Zealand's top golfer helped keep his lead with four birdies.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who carded a third-round 68, also elbowed himself into a winning frame, to finish at four under par and three strokes behind Campbell. Montgomerie has not won anywhere in 11 months.



Harrington, the world's No. 12-ranked player, has been one of the best European performers this season. The 30-year-old, who grew up less than 30 minutes from the K Club course, performed superbly in the two majors this year, finishing fifth at the US Masters and eighth at the US Open.

He is yet to win on home soil, and was guaranteed to have all of Ireland cheering him on to victory.

"This is a big title because I'm in Ireland but more because it's home, only a half an hour from where I grew up, so there's more to it than just the European Open," he said.

Harrington knows he will have a contest on his hands dealing with Campbell in the last group over the final 18 holes.

"Michael and I are reasonably the same in our rankings and on the Order of Merit and I'm sure he's got the capabilities when he's hot," Harrington said.

"He's fabulous to watch when he's playing well and he has that Monty look about him when Monty was winning his seven Order of Merits."

While Harrington looks to win his first Tour event on home soil and Monty strives to end his winless spell, Campbell is just as confident of sealing a fifth Tour win, despite opening the door a little on his rivals after his third-round 70.

"I feel I am very lucky that no one shot low and that I am still leading because the course was there for the taking," he said.

"It's a very classy leaderboard with Harrington and Montgomerie playing well but it will be Harrington who will be the crowd favourite to win, so that will be tough, but then I am still playing well enough to win it."

- NZPA