Golf: Campbell heads to British Open in positive mood

9.00am

LOCH LOMOND - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell is headed to the British Open later this week in a positive mood despite finishing in a share of sixth place in the Scottish Open.

Campbell recorded a final round 71 on the Loch Lomond course to eventually end just three strokes behind Argentina's Eduardo Romero. Romero became the third oldest winner on the European Tour after defeating the hapless Fredrik Jacobson in a play off.

The Argentine, who will turn 48 on Wednesday, and the 27-year-old Swede finished tied on 11 under par 273 after Romero closed with a 70.

Jacobson carded a level par 71 but Romero wasted little time in pocketing the 573,016 euro ($NZ1.19 million) first prize when the duo returned to the 430 yard 18th.

In the centre of the fairway after a perfect drive Romero, who now moves behind Des Smyth and Neil Coles as the oldest winners on tour, fired a superb pitching wedge to nine feet below the hole and rolled in the uphill putt for his eighth tour victory.

The win moved Romero from 17th on the Volvo Order of Merit to third with 1,104,831 euro and earned him a place in the World Golf Championships at NEC Invitational at Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, Washington, next month.

It also continued his 100 per cent play-off record, having won his only previous encounter, in the 1991 Peugeot Spanish Open when he defeated Seve Ballesteros.

Romero did not look winner material when he began his round with bogeys at the second and third holes but he gritted his teeth and battled back. Birdies at the seventh, 12th and 15th moved him back into contention as the remainder of the contenders struggled to make any forward movement.

Three pars figures to end his round saw him into the play-off but the Argentine's sedate finish was in direct contrast to that of his playing partner Jacobson.

Looking for his maiden tour victory after five career second place finishes, the Swede looked to be on track when a remarkable par four at the 448m 16th hole, after he received two free drops en route, kept him one ahead of Romero.

However, he missed a three foot putt for par on the 17th to drop back level with the Argentine and although he bravely holed for par from the same distance on the 18th, he was powerless to stop Romero's victory on the same green moments later.

"That was absolutely the best chance I have ever had to win a tournament out here and I had it pretty much in control but just over the last three or four holes I got very nervous," he said.

"I didn't see much of the back nine at all to be honest, it was all kind of in a fog. I tried to cope with it and hung in the best I could. When I made the four at the 16th I thought that might be a sign that it was my day but I just had a terrible three putt at the 17th which was not the place to do something like that.

"But overall I am pleased. I came into the week never having led a tournament after two rounds by myself, same for the fourth round. I thought I played pretty good golf but unfortunately my putting went a bit off but I was striking the ball very well under pressure."

Third place was shared between England's Roger Chapman, whose 68 for ten under par 274 also saw him qualify for the British Open, and South Africa's Tim Clark who joined Chapman on the ten under par mark after birdieing the final two holes for his own 68.


Justin Rose, already a two time winner on Tour this season, took fifth on nine under par 275, while five players shared sixth place on 276, including Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, Australia's Stephen Leaney, 1997 Scottish Open champion Tom Lehman, Jean-Francois Remesy of France and Campbell.

"It's been a good week for me," Campbell said.

"It was tough the first two days to concentrate fully particularly after winning last week in Ireland and with the hype and distractions that goes with that.

"But I managed to knuckle down to record 67 and 66 on Friday and Saturday that got me right back in the tournament.

"Not much happened today but a sixth place is a good result and I will take that to Muirfield.

"Jonathon, my coach, and I have a few things to work on and we will concentrate on that early in the week in the process of getting used to the Muirfield course.

"But now that the Scottish Open is over, I'm looking forward to the British Open. It's by far my favourite major and one that all New Zealand golf fans have grown up watching late at night on TV."

Campbell earned a Scottish Open cheque for £58,256 ($189,635) that lifted him two places, to fourth on the European Order of Merit, with earnings this year of £667,504.

He was headed with his wife and young family for the two hour drive to the Muirfield region east of Edinburgh and into their rented premises for the week before Campbell steps out onto the Muirfield course for a first ever time in his career early on Monday morning (UK time).

- NZPA