Date: October 23, 2007
Author: Steve Orme

Campbell eyes Open glory

New Zealander Michael Campbell plans to add the MFS Australian Open title to his 2005 US Open triumph, when the tournament moves to Sydney&aposs Australian Golf Club in December. Campbell will contest the Australian Masters, New Zealand Open and Australian Open this summer, and despite an indifferent year on the European Tour the 38-year-old has set his expectations high. “I can win all three,” Campbell predicted. The 38-year-old has seen his world ranking slip from inside the top 30 to his current position of 138th since 2005. But Campbell is confident a return to form is imminent. “I can feel that my game is creeping towards the positive side rather than the negative side,” he said. “I think sometimes you forget about the simple things just through, I think, human nature sometimes you go out there and just go searching for things that aren&apost really there.” “Nothing physical at all it&aposs just basically how my mind right now is in the right direction.” Asked where the Australian Open ranks on his wish-list of tournaments he most covets, Campbell referred to the star-studded list of past champions. “For me how you rank golf tournaments is on who has actually won it before – so the Australian Open is definitely up there with all the majors.” “All the great players Gary Player, Nicklaus, (Arnold) Palmer, Norman, you know all these great players have won the tournament so that&aposs my indication on how important it is to win it.” “I remember seeing on TV back in New Zealand seeing all the greats of golf playing the Australian Open and seeing them win too.” “So it&aposs important for me to have that trophy in my cabinet and I&aposll be coming here with that motivation because I&aposm here to win.” “Holding trophies at the end of four rounds of golf, of a tournament, is more important to me than anything else in the world,” he said.