SYDNEY - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell has his last chance to defend one of the four titles he won on last year's Australasian Tour at the $A1.75 million ($2.17 million) Heineken Classic in Perth, starting today.
In his first two defence attempts, Campbell placed third behind Tiger Woods at the
season-opening Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand and tied for second at the New Zealand Open.
He has opted not to defend his Australian Masters Crown in a fortnight and will instead contest the Malaysian Open.
The Australian TAB has listed the Wellingtonian a firm $A7 favourite to keep his Heineken crown after arriving in Perth refreshed from a week off in Auckland.
Campbell hoped the lessons he learned at the New Zealand Open would help him this week. He nearly missed the cut in Auckland and only found form when he played more aggressively.
World No 16 Campbell won the Australasian Tour and was fourth on the European Tour order of merit last year. His win at the co-sanctioned event in Perth played a key role in both.
He will be wary of a strong international field led by consistent Dane Thomas Bjorn and Swede Pierre Fulke, his conqueror at the world matchplay championships last month.
A revitalised David Smail, with wins in the NZ Open and Canon Challenge under his belt in the last fortnight, heads the other Kiwi challengers, including Greg Turner.
Smail is sixth-favourite with bookmakers at $A23 while less chance is given to Steve Alker, Michael Long, Paul Devenport, Marcus Wheelhouse, Matthew Lane, Philip Tataurangi, Elliot Boult and Stephen Scahill.
Of interest will be the showing of Australian talent Adam Scott, the 20-year-old who won his maiden professional title at the recent Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
He will play alongside Campbell and England's Justin Rose in the first two rounds.
The clash of Australia's Greg Norman and English great Nick Faldo, with eight major titles between them, will attract large galleries on the first two days.
After a decade in Perth, the Heineken Classic will move to Melbourne next season.
It has been the richest event on the Australasian Tour in recent years but was surpassed this season by the $A2 million Greg Normal International in Sydney next week.
Scorching temperatures in Perth last weekend have subsided and a heavy thunderstorm on Tuesday should leave the greens in a forgiving condition.
- NZPA
Golf: Last-title stand for Kiwi golfer
SYDNEY - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell has his last chance to defend one of the four titles he won on last year's Australasian Tour at the $A1.75 million ($2.17 million) Heineken Classic in Perth, starting today.
In his first two defence attempts, Campbell placed third behind Tiger Woods at the
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