New Zealand’s Michael Campbell has won the Johnnie Walker Classic, his maiden title on the European Tour, after holding off a strong challenge from Australian Geoff Ogilvy and South Africa’s Ernie Els. Campbell closed with a two under par 70, to win by a stroke from Ogilvy, in a tournament he had led from day one.
Campbell, who has fought his way back to the top following a wrist injury, beat young Australian Geoff Ogilvy by a stroke at the Westin Resort Ta Shee, after closing with a two-under-par 70, for a four-round total of 12-under-par 276.
Ogilvy, just 22, fired a 68 to claim second place, while South African Ernie Els, the champion in 1997 and runner-up last year, finished a stroke further back in third position, after closing with a 68.
In what was the first ever tri-sanctioned event between the European, Australasian, and Asian PGA Tours, Fiji's Vijay Singh took fourth spot on nine under following a 68, and veteran Australian Peter Senior came in with a best of the day 67 to finish fifth on eight under.
Defending champion Tiger Woods of United States, looking for his fifth tournament victory in a row, finished seven under for the tournament in sixth place, after firing a battling 71. The 23-year-old American's final day charge failed to materialise after he took two sevens on the front
nine. The first was a double-bogey on the sixth, where he had to take a drop following an errant drive, and the second was a triple-bogey on the eighth, where he hit his second into water.
Woods lost all hope of victory with his second seven, but staged an amazing fightback with birdies on nine, 10, 14, 15 and 17. His front nine score of three-over-par 39 was one of his worst nines this year, but he redeemed himself with an inward half of four-under-par 32.
Campbell, who started the day leading by three from Ogilvy, was tied with his Australian playing partner and Els, playing two groups ahead, with four holes to play. The New Zealander made a crucial 12-foot birdie putt on the par-four 15th to pull ahead, and after Ogilvy failed to get up and down for a par on the 17th, the New Zealander had the luxury of a two-stroke cushion playing the 18th. Ogilvy birdied the last, but it was not enough to stop Campbell from claiming the first place cheque of US$215,328.
Els's challenge faltered with a bogey on 15, and a three-putt bogey on the 16th. His first putt from 20 feet on the 16th raced by the hole, and he missed the return from five feet. The South African birdied the 17th to snatch outright third from Singh.
"It's unbelievable it has been a long frustrating last four years. Finally I have got the monkey off my back. After such a great year in 1995 when I was so near so many times. This is great, it's a great feeling," said Campbell, whose last victory also came in Asia, in the 1995 Alfred Dunhill Masters in Jakarta.
In 1995, after a brilliant rookie year in Europe, Campbell was the rising star of world golf. He led the British Open at St Andrews after three rounds, and eventually tied for third place. The Kiwi star also finished second in the Volvo PGA Championship, and British Masters, and took fifth place on the European Tour Order of Merit.
However, his success was short lived as a wrist injury led to a huge slump in form that saw in lose his European Tour card in 1996 and 1997. In 1998
the signs were there that his game was coming back after he finished 81st on the Merit list in Europe, while this year he ended 41st.
The Johnnie Walker Classic, which is the opening event on the 1999/2000 seasons in Europe and Australia, is Campbell's first European Tour win, and third Australasian Tour victory. His two other Australasian wins are the Alfred Dunhill Masters, and the Canon Challenge in 1993, the year he turned professional.
"A few years ago, at the French Open I think, I shot 78 and 81 and missed the cut. I remember coming back to my room and throwing my clubs across the floor and saying to myself 'what am I going to do'. I seriously thought about other ways to make a living - maybe going to work in a pro shop," said Campbell. "With my wife being pregnant I realised that I had to be the supporter of my family, the provider. My baby son Thomas has inspired me to this victory," added the 30-year-old Maori.
Campbell started confidently with birdies on one, two and six. He led Ogilvy, who eagled the third, by four before disaster hit on the seventh, where took three to get out of the bunker. His first shot, from a plugged lie, stayed in the sand, as did his second bunker shot. He got his third
out, and bravely holed a 10 footer for a double-bogey five. At the turn he was just one ahead of Olgivy, and two in front of Els. A birdie two on the 11th steadied him, before he held off his challengers over the closing holes.
"I played super all day and I have no complaints. I didn't want to finish tied for second so I am really glad that I made the birdie on 18," said Ogilvy, who missed a 12 foot birdie putt on 16 to tie Campbell. "This is definitely the best looking leaderboard I have ever seen my name on. I didn't feel out of my depth but I did feel that I was surrounded by a serious amount of experience up there," said Ogilvy, who turned professional last year. The Australian won US$142,208 for second place. England's Nick Faldo showed signs that his game is improving after closing with a 71 to finish four under in 12th place.
Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng finished as the leading Asian player for the second year in a row. Prayad, one of seven Asians in the top 30, carded a 70 to tie for 12th place. He was joint eighth last year in Thailand, when
he finished three behind Woods.
