KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Michael Campbell's golfing misery continues after he produced his highest ever score in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth near London today.
Campbell recorded two double bogeys in his opening three holes ahead of trudging off with a horror six-over par 78, leaving him in 138th place and 12 shots off the lead.
It is his worst score in 37 rounds of the European Tour's flagship event and two shots more than a prior worst round of 76 on day two of the 2005 championship.
His score continues an embarrassing downturn in Campbell's game, having missed the cut in his last three events.
Despite four days under the watchful eye of long time coach Jonathon Yarwood, Campbell was in trouble from the outset when he pulled his tee shot way right into trees at Wentworth's opening hole. He shot a double-bogey six.
On the same course where he won the prestigious HSBC Match-Play Championship in 2005 -- his last taste of victory -- Campbell never recovered
The former US Open champion record a second double bogey at the par-four third hole ahead of bogeys at seven, nine, 10 and 15.
Campbell's only joy were birdies at the sixth and final holes.
He hit just seven of 14 fairways in regulation while he found just eight of 18 greens in regulation.
British pair of Justin Rose and Paul Broadhurst both carded rounds of 66 to share the lead.
Rose, who played in the same group as Campbell, spoke of his disappointment at seeing Campbell struggle.
"I've played with Cambo three times this year and he has in a sense been a good luck charm as I have played well when I have played alongside him," said Rose, ranked 28 in the world.
"But he's grinding it out, and as a player you all go through tough times and you can still see he has loads of talent, and it's just amazing as his good putts are just not going in right now.
"His good putts seem to be lipping out and he just doesn't seem to get a break, and it's amazing when your confidence is not quite up those sorts of things don't go with you."
Rose said every player had to work through such periods and there was no better remedy than old fashioned hard work.
"He's a class player and I am certainly not worried about him and I am sure he will be fine," the Englishman said.
"If he can knock in a few putts he will soon have his tail up and that will really start to get the feel good factor going."
- NZPA
