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SUTTON COLDFIELD, England - Michael Campbell's golfing resurgence continues despite the disappointment of missing out on a play-off to decide the British Masters at the Belfry today.
For a second European Tour event in succession the 2005 US Open champion has settled for a share of third after carding a closing round 72.
Campbell, who pocketed $305,000, had the chance to join England's Lee Westwood and Spain's Gonzalo Fernarndez-Castano in a play-off had it not been for two bogeys over his closing three holes.
The Spaniard won the play-off at the fourth extra hole.
Campbell began the last round tied in the lead with Westwood after returning to the England Midlands course earlier in the day to complete the remaining four holes of his third round.
The 39-year-old finished in style with three birdies in succession from his 15th to finish with a 65 and sharing the lead with Westwood on 10-under par.
Campbell endured a frustrating start to the final round after he had to wait nine holes before recording his first birdie when he rolled in two-metre putt.
However, he faltered at the next after organisers moved the tee forward at the short par four 10th hole, tempting players to go for the green.
Campbell accepted the challenge but watched in despair as his drive initially cleared the water only to bounce on the fringe of the hole and kick into the hazard, condemning him to a costly bogey.
He regrouped with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th before another bogey on the 16th left him needing a birdie on the last to join the play-off.
His drive at the dog-leg leg hole run through the fairway and into an awful lie in the rough.
Campbell managed to clear with the water guarding the green with his second but his ball was still well short and a good wedge shot from the flag.
But his chip was well short from where Campbell two-putted for a bogey, an even-par round of 72 and his fourth top-10 finish in five starts.
It was also the fourth time he has finished inside the top five in the event.
He was fourth in 2005, fifth the following year and fourth in 2007.
"I've been so close in this event the past four years that I'm getting to the stage that I feel like I'm owed a win," he said.
"Hopefully if I keep on knocking on victory door it will open for me. It's frustrating to go so close again but I've come a long way since the British Open and now made the cut in seven events straight.
"I couldn't make a cut as the start of the year and now in my last two events I am contending for victory so that's a nice feeling to have been able to turn things around."
Campbell will now head north to Scotland for his final European Tour event of the year, Thursday's starting Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
"I've come close here at The Belfry so maybe it's my time to come first this week in Scotland. That would be a great way to wind up my season."
- NZPA
