Michael Campbell continues love affair with Ireland
IN: News | European PGA | Nissan Irish Open (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 28 Jul 2003
After what has been a nightmare run over the last eight months or so, Michael Campbell showed remarkable resilience to edge out Thomas Bjorn and Peter Hedblom to win the Nissan Irish Open. It took another visit to the Dublin area to do so, as it was at the K Club on the other side of Dublin last year, where he won his last event, the European Open.
I say, remarkable resilience, as to be able to win here today without the benefit of any significant lead up form and without being in contention for so long. Campbell displayed a trait that he has not always shown and it was impressive stuff.
Like many others and indeed Michael himself, I felt that in order for him to challenge in the key events in world golf, he needed to take his significant game to the United States. After a couple of good placings last year in the US, it appeared that Campbell was ready to take on the US full time. By virtue of those finishes which included a second placing behind Tiger Woods at Bay Hill in 2002, he had gained the right to play the USPGA Tour full time in 2003 but it became obvious early on that he was not comfortable there. He missed the greater camaraderie that prevails amongst the players in Europe and his family seem settled in Brighton where he has a house. It now appears that he will now play the US in fits and starts, rather than as a concentrated campaign.
At the start of 2003 Campbell was ranked 19th in the world but prior to this week had slipped to 64th. This will regain much of that lost ground and now that he is back in his comfort zone, we can expect more.
Campbell had started the last round tied with Thomas Bjorn and David Lynn and with both he and Bjorn producing last round 71's, they were joined by the strong finish of 68 by Hedblom. Campbell's second with an eight iron at the par four eighteenth, which was the first playoff hole, never left the flag and finished just a foot from the hole making his birdie a mere formality. Both Bjorn and Hedblom had outside chances but they missed and the title was Campbell's.
Thomas Bjorn again had a Sunday of mixed emotions. He was no doubt happy to be in serious contention for the second consecutive week but as was the case last week, he let a great winning opportunity slip. He didn't do much wrong in round four but didn't take advantage of the opportunities that came his way. Still with his second runner up placing in his last two events and second three months earlier in Germany, he like Campbell, has returned to near the top of European golf.
Peter Hedblom had lost a playoff earlier in the season in Spain and just a few weeks earlier had been fifth in Qatar. His only win in more than ten years on tour has been the Moroccan Open in 1996 but he now appears headed for the best season of his career perhaps surpassing his previous best when 36th in 1994. He is currently 31st on the Volvo order of Merit.
Peter Lonard was the leading Australasian in 7th position after having worked himself into position to win again on Sunday. A double bogey at the seventeenth hole today didn't cost him victory but it did cost him a chance at third or fourth place. Lonard has yet to win outside of Australia but surely, given that he is putting himself in a position to win on such a regular basis, it is going to happen before too long.
Peter O'Malley was next best in 11th place, Brett Rumford 17th, Peter Fowler and Jarrod Moseley 23rd and Terry Price 52nd.
The European Tour now heads to Sweden for this week's Scandanavian Masters.
