KEY POINTS:
HOUSTON - Competition-starved Michael Campbell has no expectations of himself heading into the first golf major of the year next week.
The New Zealander is contesting the Houston Open starting tomorrow, his first appearance in the United States since last August, and his only tuneup for the Masters at Augusta.
The 2005 US Open champion has played little golf this season, managing just seven rounds of competition between finishing 70th in the Qatar Masters in January and withdrawing after an opening round of 84 in the Malaysian Open last month.
Campbell entered last week's New Orleans Classic in the US but suffered a neck injury while contesting the pro-am and withdrew after just three holes.
"The neck injury was like the injury I had when I had to withdraw with one round to play in last year's Malaysian Open but after treatment it's a lot better this week and it's not a problem," Campbell said.
"I've hardly had any golf at all this season. In some ways that can be a blessing because I am not burnt out but in saying that I'm out now to work even harder."
The Houston Open presents Campbell with the chance to get some competition under his belt ahead of the Masters, where he has missed the cut in all seven of his previous appearances since 1996.
"It would be nice to finally make a cut at Augusta but I am going there with no expectations," he said.
"Augusta National does owe me because I've missed the cut by a shot about four or five times so it would be some relief to play all four rounds.
"But that's why I have no expectations. It was much the same when I went into the 2005 US Open. I had no expectations that week and came home with the trophy."
Campbell is among 28 players in the 144-player Houston field who will head to Augusta National next week.
He is one of two New Zealanders in Houston and the other, Tim Wilkinson, has much more to recommend him this week even though he is not on the invited list for the Masters.
The left-hander is 41st on the PGA Tour moneylist with income of US$536,305 ($687,570) after his third placing in the New Orleans Classic.
- NZPA
