The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Michael Campbell clinches U.S. Open

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005

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Sport - Golf

Michael Campbell clinches U.S. Open

PINEHURST: New Zealand's Michael Campbell held off a charging Tiger Woods to clinch his maiden Major title by two shots at the 105th U.S. Open on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Campbell, four off the pace overnight, collected four birdies and three bogeys to close with a one-under-par 69 in difficult, breezy conditions at Pinehurst's No.2 course.

Despite dropping two shots in the last three holes, he finished on a level 280 to become the first Kiwi to win a major title since left-hander Bob Charles took the British Open at Royal Lytham 42 years ago.

"I've had to work very hard for this with plenty of ups and downs throughout my career, but this is well worth the work," an emotional Campbell told reporters. "It's just unbelievable.

"This is what I've practised for. This is going to change my whole career.

"I can't believe I'm holding this trophy," added the New Zealander, the first come-from-behind winner at a U.S. Open since American Lee Janzen overhauled a five-stroke deficit at Olympic in 1998.

U.S. Masters champion Woods, who had been chasing his 10th career major, rallied from a bogey-bogey start and reeled off four birdies in the last nine holes to secure second place with a matching, best-of-the-day 69.

However, his bid to match Ben Hogan as the only player to win the first two majors of the year on two occasions was dashed when he missed an eight-footer for par on 16 and three-putted for bogey on 17.

Putting was a problem

"If I had putted normally, I would be looking a lot better right now," said a rueful Woods, whose 69 was one of just four achieved on the day. "I played well today, I just did not putt well. I didn't putt well the entire week.

"I figured if I could just get to even par I might be able to get into a playoff. Unfortunately, I made those two bogeys on 16 and 17 and that kind of put me out of that equation." Campbell, who had to pre-qualify to book his place at Pinehurst, holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the first, dropped his first shot of the day at the par-four eighth and then sank a 30-footer for birdie at the par-five 10th to forge two clear.

Although he ended up bogeying the treacherous 16th and also the final hole, he effectively closed the door on Woods's challenge by holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th.

"When I stuck the birdie putt on 17, it was a turning point," Campbell said. "I knew Tiger had bogeyed 17 so there was a two-shot swing right there.

"So I had a three-shot lead going to the last and I thought to myself: 'just keep your focus, keep your focus'. And it worked."

Campbell earned $1.17 million (euro 960,000) for his first victory in the United States, which comes with five-year exemptions on the U.S. PGA Tour and the other three Majors.

"Hats off to him," Woods said.Spaniard Sergio Garcia and South Africa's Tim Clark both carded 70s to tie for third at five over, level with Australia's Mark Hensby who registered a 74.

South Africa's Retief Goosen, three strokes clear overnight, threw away his chance of a third U.S. Open title by dropping six shots in the first nine holes.

Five more bogeys after the turn led to a dismal 81 and a share of 11th place at eight-over 288.

The scores (top 10): 280: Michael Campbell (NZ); 282: Tiger Woods(U.S.); 285: Sergio Garcia (Esp), Tim Clark (RSA), Mark Hensby (Aus); 286: Davis Love III (U.S.), Rocco Mediate (U.S.), Vijay Singh (Fiji); 287: Nick Price (Zim), Arron Oberholser (U.S.). — Agencies

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