Golf: Cambo calm ahead of dogfight with Monty

Michael Campbell is heading to the Valderrama course in Spain next week determined to end his 2005 European Tour campaign with an exclamation mark to follow the bold type of his US Open triumph in June.

Campbell returns to Valderrama an entirely different beast to the 2004 model - when he finished 11-over - fuelled by a confidence only a major title can generate.

A truly outstanding year could yet have another compelling twist in its tail as he seeks to elbow aside a European legend and be crowned the continent's No 1 player, a title no New Zealander has held.

In his way stands a stout Scot in Colin Montgomerie, whose transformation this year from faded star to rejuvenated money maker has been every bit as remarkable as Campbell's second coming.

As he pursues an unprecedented eighth Vardon Trophy for heading the European Order of Merit, Montgomerie enjoys a buffer of $259,927 over Campbell, his nearest rival .

Translated, that means every shot will count between the two title combatants at Valderrama where the season-ending Volvo Masters' tournament purse of $6.8million equates to a winner's cheque of $1.1 million.

And never under-estimate Campbell's desire to claim the mantle of Europe's best, a crown he openly covets.

"It's always been a goal I wanted to achieve. It's always been written down in my diary," Campbell said from his Sydney home today during a two-week break with his family.

"I'm dead serious. I'm pretty motivated to win the Order of Merit but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself.

"But this break with the family has allowed me to stoke the fires, I'm hungry and I'm ready to complete the job by winning the Order of Merit."

Tour promoters must be delighted with the script as two of the game's most celebrated comeback men duel it out to the last.

Campbell, 36, scaled new heights by claiming the US Open crown in June then followed up with top-six placings in another two majors, the British Open and PGA Championship, before winning the World Matchplay Championship in England last month.

The momentum, though, appears to favour the canny Scot, 42, who made the European Tour his own personal plaything by winning the Order of Merit title for seven successive seasons from 1993 to 1999.

The glory days soon turned into the gloomy days, though, and much of the past two years were particularly difficult for Montgomerie after a messy divorce unfolded just as a form slump deepened.

But with marital mayhem behind him and now settled into a new relationship, Montgomerie announced his return to form by finishing second behind Tiger Woods in the British Open.

Then he ended a barren run of 19 months on tour by winning the Dunhill Links Championship at his beloved St Andrews this month.

He was on a roll and showed impeccable timing to overtake Campbell in the European rankings by finishing tied for third in the WGC-American Express Championship in San Francisco just under a fortnight ago.

Campbell said the excitement levels would be high at Valderrama.

"Monty's had a great little run and next week is going to be exciting for everyone," he said.

"I can't control what he does; all I can do is control my own emotions and destiny."

He said it had already been confirmed he and Montgomerie would be paired for the opening two rounds, a joust he was looking forward to.

Both players waste little time on the course and there is mutual respect.

Campbell believes the critics have been unduly harsh on Montgomerie, who has been pilloried in the past for his grumpy exterior.

"He's actually nicer off the course than on the course," Campbell said, adding that some in the golfing community often referred to Montgomerie's on-course demeanour being caused by his golf shoe spikes pointing upwards instead of down.

- NZPA