Date: January 31, 2007
Author: Luke Buttigieg

Campbell tips tough time

By Luke Buttigieg Australia&aposs Japanese Tour star Nikki Campbell says she expects a tough test at Royal Sydney in this week&aposs MFS Women&aposs Australian Open. Back home after her fourth and, so far, best season of her career in Japan last year, which included a win at the We Love Kobe Suntory Ladies Open and 12th place overall on the money list, Campbell is preparing for one of her hardest weeks on the course. “I think it&aposs probably one of the toughest courses any of us have played, it&aposs very long, the wind&aposs going to blow, the greens are firm, they&aposre slopey, and when you put all that together it&aposs a pretty tough course,” Campbell said. Not actually sure how much prizemoney she earned last year, because she &apostries to play golf more for positions&apos than money because she finds &aposit&aposs an advantage because I don&apost ever sit down and work it out&apos, Campbell is loving playing in Japan. “I always had a goal to win in Japan and came through last year at the start of the year,” she said. “I like the country and I like the courses and the golf tournaments there so it&aposs a great place to play.” “I love the food, it&aposs very healthy which is great and sometimes when I come home I actually miss Japan and want to go back, which I never thought would happen.” Getting to catch up occasionally with her brother Chris, who also plays in Japan, also helps the 26-year-old, who borrowed the money to have a crack at the Tour School from her parents and quickly repaid it within the first year. And while she will play a couple more years in Japan because of a contract with a golf company over there, Campbell will look at possibly contesting the LPGA Tour School at the end of 2008 looking for a card to play there the following year. But before she heads there in just under two years or even goes back to Japan, Campbell would also like nothing better than to claim her second victory on home soil this week, after also triumphing at the ALPG&aposs ABC Learning Centres & FADL Group Ladies Classic in 2005.