Golf: Campbell's perfect timing

Michael Campbell's timing in winning the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament in Taipei on Sunday was impeccable, according to his manager Andrew Ramsey.

"All his sponsorship contracts are up for renewal during the next few weeks," Ramsey said from Adelaide where Campbell is preparing for the Ford Open starting on Thursday.

"I am talking to all these companies and he goes and wins such a high-profile and lucrative tournament, beating the likes of Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. He has given me all the help he can to get a good deal for him."

Campbell was still coming down to earth yesterday after the thrill of winning his first tournament on the European Tour.

Besides the $405,000 prize money, the win is likely to lift him from 158th in the world into the top 80 and puts him on target for a top 60 spot, which would mean starts in events such as the World Matchplay tournament.

The win also means he is exempt from qualifying on the European Tour in 2001 and as the Johnnie Walker is a co-sanctioned event with the Australasian PGA, Campbell's prize money will be registered on both orders-of-merit.

It was the first tournament on the 1999-2000 Australasian order-of-merit. With such a good start ($460,400) Campbell should finish in the top three and thereby be guaranteed a start in the British Open and the lucrative World Championship in Valderrama, Spain, a tournament Woods won last week.

Campbell, who had not won a golf tournament for four years, led from start to finish for his biggest payday, something he had never done before.

"It took so much out of me. I am still exhausted," Campbell said.

"Having Tiger, Ernie and Vijay breathing down my neck made it all the harder, but having them in the field also made winning that much sweeter.

"To finish ahead of Tiger in his current form [Woods was looking for a fifth successive win] is a real thrill. Even though I started the last day four shots ahead of him, I was wary because he is a freak. He has come from seven or eight shots behind in the last round to win tournaments."

Campbell said the past four years had been a struggle. During his first year in Europe in 1995 he finished third in the British Open but sustained a serious wrist injury while playing in the New Zealand Open at the end of the year.

Though the injury cleared up Campbell went into a form slump after making changes to his swing to compensate and it has only been during this year that his confidence and form have returned.

"I knew it would come back one day," Campbell said. "I have been playing consistently this year, but whenever I got in contention I would try too hard.

"Last week I felt more relaxed and was comfortable right through the last round."

According to his peers, Campbell is more mature on and off the course than he was in his early days as a professional.

Campbell agrees with that assessment and puts the change in attitude down to the birth of his son, Thomas, 15 months ago. He also credits his wife, Julie, with him getting more enjoyment out of golf in recent months.

Campbell's win was also a boost for organisers of the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu Beach from January 20 to 23.

It appears unlikely that any star overseas golfers will be enticed there, but Campbell confirmed he would be playing at Paraparaumu.

- NZPA