Golf: Woods looms large in Campbell's sights

Michael Campbell will have to stop World No 1 Tiger Woods chalking up a sixth straight win if he is to end a 12-month winless drought at the World Matchplay Championship which begins tomorrow (NZ time) outside London.

As defending champion, Campbell has been seeded No 1.

With second seed Woods at the opposite side of the 16-player draw, both would only meet in the final on Monday on the famed Wentworth course in Surrey.

"It's obviously a privilege to be the No 1 seed above Tiger, and to be here defending my title has me very, very excited," Campbell said.

"I always enjoy it every time I come back to a golf tournament or a golf course I enjoy and like.

"This brings back fond memories from last year.

"It's a week I will hopefully enjoy and hopefully a week I can win back-to-back titles.

"That's one thing I haven't done this year and that's win.

"It's been a different year so far, but one week can change your whole year, and hopefully it's this week," the former US Open champion said.

Woods' form has been great this year, Campbell said.

"But it just makes the other 15 guys here this week more motivated to beat him.

"He's won five in a row and it would be great to come across him in the final and see him fall.

"So put it this way, there is no way there will be 15 guys ready to lie down and say, 'Tiger, you take the title'.

"I'm sure the other guys who come up against Tiger will definitely be trying their best, 110 per cent and be looking to beat him."

Organisers this year have managed to attract one of the strongest fields since the inaugural event was won by Arnold Palmer in 1964.

And in that time, only four players have successfully defended the title - Gary Player (1965-66), Hale Irwin (1974-75), Seve Ballesteros (1981-82, 1984-85), Ernie Els (1994-1996, 2002-2004).

Campbell is out in the first of eight matches facing 16th seed England's Simon Khan, who was fourth in May's BMW Championship and runner-up in July's European Open in Ireland.

Campbell's side of the draw includes ninth seed Colin Montgomerie, David Howell (No 8), Retief Goosen (No 5), Paul Casey (No 12), Adam Scott (No 4) and Mike Weir (No 13).

Woods is making only his second appearance in the event since finishing runner-up in 1998 to Mark O'Meara, the then reigning US Masters and British Open champion.

Woods' section includes Shaun Micheel, Luke Donald, Tim Clark, Jim Furyk, Robert Karlsson, Els and Angel Cabrera.

- NZPA