Golf: Campbell's strengths suit Augusta course, says Nobilo

Former leading New Zealand golfer, Frank Nobilo, believes Michael Campbell can finally break his run of outs at next week's US Masters if he plays to his strengths.

Campbell has missed the cut in five attempts at the Masters since his debut there a decade ago -- his poorest record in the four majors.

But Nobilo, whose best finish in four Masters appearances is fourth behind Nick Faldo in 1996, believes Campbell can make the break through next week.

"Compared to the other majors, Augusta is a totally different animal and it should be the easiest from the point of view that you should know what you are going to get each and every year," Nobilo said.

"I played a dozen rounds of Augusta National in my career and while the course has changed quite a bit over the last four to five years, I believe, relative to technology, it is pretty much the same place.

"Michael will go to Augusta taking a lot of confidence out of the fact that the greens at Pinehurst, where he won the US Open last year, are very similar to Augusta.

"He will also find that he'll be facing the same type of chipping because one thing we saw at Pinehurst is that if you missed the green, the golf ball ran a good seven, eight, 10 or 15 feet away.

"At US Opens in the past it that was not the case as you would then be chipping out of thick rough all the time.

"Michael is a very good putter from 20 to 25 feet, and probably one of the best mid-range putters in the world. What he needs to do at Augusta is to play to that strength."

Nobilo's last US Masters appearance was in 1998 when he missed the cut with rounds of 77 and 76. He retired from the US Tour at the end of 2002.

Nobilo is now a full time analyst for the Golf Channel and while he won't be at Augusta next week, he will cheering Campbell on from the station's Orlando studio.

"I would dearly love to see Michael succeed at Augusta.

"But his career has been a mixed bag, as he can blow hot and cold and his career is probably never going to change.

"But he's shown that when he has moments of brilliance he is capable of beating the best players in the world.

"A top-15 finish next week would be a real bonus for him as I believe his chance for winning a second major will come in the other three majors."

- NZPA