Golf: Confident Campbell blasts into last 16

MELBOURNE - Michael Campbell's blistering start to the $A9 million ($11.44 million) world matchplay golf championship continued yesterday when the New Zealander outclassed Japan's Toshi Izawa 5 and 4 in the second round at the Metropolitan course in Melbourne.

For the second day, fifth-seed Campbell did not get a look at the late holes after he left his 28th-seeded opponent little chance.

Campbell on Wednesday beat Swede Mathias Gronberg 4 and 3.

An eagle on the sixth and birdies on the second, third, eighth, ninth and 10th holes left Campbell on seven-under-par yesterday and six holes up at that stage.

An uncharacteristically poor fairway iron on the 12th allowed Izawa to pull back a hole, but halves on the 13th and 14th saw Campbell advance to the final 16.

He said the way he was playing left him confident he could go all the way to the final on Sunday.

"I think so, my game is coming together nicely," he said. "I shot five-under yesterday and six-under today, so I'm very happy.

If Campbell had any concern it was that he had yet to play holes 16 to 18. "I've played seven fewer holes than most of the other guys."

They included today's opponent, Pierre Fulke, of Sweden, after the 21st seed beat American Glen Day on the 20th hole yesterday.

Top-seeded South African Ernie Els overcame Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka one up. Seventh-seeded American Justin Leonard escaped a two-hole deficit at the 14th to beat Scot Gary Orr one up.

Ninth-seeded American David Toms was not so lucky, losing 3 and 2 to Scot Andrew Coltart.

- NZPA