Golf: Campbell hopes for his own stroke of brilliance

1.00pm

HEIDELBERG, Germany - Michael Campbell is hoping his own stroke of brilliance will lead to him capturing this week's Tournament Players Championship of Europe (TPC) here.

Campbell has joined most of Europe's top golfers hoping to secure the 500,000 euros ($1 million) first prize cheque in the tournament starting tonight (NZ time).

It was three years ago and on the same St Leon Rot course that Tiger Woods pulled off a single stroke of genius on the final day to overhaul Campbell and win the prestigious European Tour event.

Campbell led for the first three rounds and up until Woods holed a seven-iron second shot at the par-four fourteenth hole for an eagle and eventually won by four from the New Zealander.

"I was out on the 14th today in the pro-am and I can still see Tiger's ball going in the hole that day," Campbell said.

"It was some shot and the kind of fireworks we've come to expect from Tiger."

But there was plenty of shots Campbell remembered playing himself that week including many he played on route to a brilliant first round 62.

"This Heidelberg course seems to suit my game but it's still tough and you will pay the penalty for any errant shots."

Woods also won the event on the same course in 2002 and while he competed last year, in Hamburg, he finished 29th behind Ireland's Padraig Harrington.

The world's No 1 golfer Woods is absent this year.

"Tiger always brings a lot of hype to any event he plays in and the fact he's not playing this week, is still no reason to let down your guard and play with any less intensity," Campbell said.

The New Zealander can expect tough opposition from Harrington, Ernie Els, Nick Price and a full cast of 2004 European Ryder Cup hopefuls including Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo, Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Spainard Miguel Angel Jimenez, winner of last week's BMW Asian Open in China.

Also in the field is Australia's Adam Scott, looking to add the Players Championship of Europe title to March's US Players Championship success.

Campbell has began well in his last two European Tour appearances, carding mid-60 scores but then failing to capitalise on his good early work.

"I'm conscious of that and it's been my putting that has let me down," he said.

"I worked hard on that aspect of my game last week at the East Sussex National club where I practice and after emailing my putting stroke to Jonathon in the States, we've got it sorted out.

"It was only something simple but he'll be over next week so we can work even more on my overall game."

Fellow-New Zealander Stephen Scahill is also in the field.

- NZPA