Campbell looking to European Open to rekindle form
IN: News | European PGA | Smurfit European Open (2003) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 01 Jul 2003
After a disastrous five months in the US where he has certainly failed to flatter, Michael Campbell returns to the scene of his last win, the 2002 Smurfit European Open, in the hope that his struggling game can improve prior to the British Open. In ten starts in the US this year, Campbell has made just the one cheque and even that was the guaranteed first round loser cheque at the Accenture Match Play.
Campbell announced last week that he would be returning to playing the European Tour full time. He indicated his greater enjoyment in playing the European Tour where he sees a greater camaraderie. "I've missed that aspect this year," Campbell told the New Zealand Press Association in France last week. "Ten minutes after they have finished their rounds in the US the guys are back in their hotels rooms taking room service and are in bed by 8.00pm. It's a lot friendlier in Europe with everyone travelling together, eating together and besides I do have plenty of fond memories of playing so well on the European Tour."
He defends a title he won last year by the narrowest of margins after a rather shaky finish. He was five ahead with four to play, but faltered down the stretch to just hold out Padraig Harrington, Bradley Dredge, Retief Goosen and Paul Lawrie.
The K Club in Dublin will again host the Smurfit European Open as it has done since 1995. Other recent winners are Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood. The course, designed by Arnold Palmer and his design team, opened in 1992 and has been chosen as the Ryder Cup venue in 2006.
Joining Campbell are Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Stephen Leaney and Justin Rose amongst others.
Australasians are well represented, in addition to Campbell and Leaney, Peter O'Malley, Brett Rumford, Richard Green, Nick O'Hern, Stephen Scahill, Terry Price, Lucas Parsons and Scott Gardiner are all entered.
