Golf: Success a state of mind as Campbell learns his lesson

By DAVID LEGGAT

Two Michael Campbells played in the New Zealand Open golf championship over the past four days.

More of one, less of the other, and it could easily have been back-to-back Opens for the world's No 15 player.

Campbell admitted he spent the first two days at The Grange in Auckland trying to defend the title that he won in memorable circumstances at the Paraparaumu Beach course a year ago.

The result was rounds of 71, 72 - three over par and just inside the cut.

The other Campbell turned up on Saturday morning.

In the following 36 holes he peeled off rounds of 66 and 66, eight shots under par, to finish in a share of second place, two shots adrift of the eventual champion, David Smail.

"My state of mind over the last two rounds was the difference," Campbell said.

"I spent the first two rounds trying to defend the title, the last two trying to win it.

"The last two rounds were very satisfying.

"Winning from nine behind [at halfway] is a big task, but it was possible."

Indeed, Campbell, who picked up two shots on the front nine yesterday, and a further three over his next six holes, had a glimmer of hope of catching Smail.

Then he double-bogeyed the par-four 17th - and that was that.

Campbell believed the mishap was born of the frustration he had experienced in his previous four holes.

At the 12th, he had a 20ft putt for an eagle, and took a birdie.

He had "very makeable" putts of six, five and 10 feet at 13, 14 and 15, but could not capitalise.

He touched six under at 16, but by the end of the 17th he was "very, very angry."

A year ago at Paraparaumu Beach he was "sinking every putt in sight."

It was very different this time.

With Smail double-bogeying the 18th, it was doubly depressing for Campbell to ponder what could - probably should - have been a few holes earlier.

But Campbell insisted that at the Open - as with every tournament he plays - he was learning more about his game.

"This tournament has been a confidence booster for me," he said.

"I played some extremely good shots and I can take a lot of positive things away."

As Campbell looks ahead to the defence of his other Australasian Tour titles - the Heineken Classic in Perth next week and the Ericsson Masters next month - expect a more aggressive defending champion to turn up.

Here endeth the Auckland lesson.