Campbell Shares Common Victory Thread With Tiger
Bernie McGuire
Tuesday, 10th November, 2009
Michael Campbell will tee-up this week as one of three former U.S. Open champions contesting the J B Were Australian Masters in Melbourne.
Campbell captured the 2005 U.S. Open while Australian Geoff Ogivly followed up the next year with
a win at Winged Foot in New York.
In contrast, Tiger Woods has tasted success in three U.S. Open’s , 2000, 2002 and last year in his memorable Monday play-off encounter with fellow American Rocco Mediate.
Woods will play the opening two rounds in the company of defending Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling along with Sydneysider Craig Parry, who has just ended a season competing full time on the Japan Tour.
The trio of Woods, Pampling and Parry will tee-up on Kingston Heath at 7.30am Melbourne time while Campbell joins Sweden’s Pelle Edgberg and Australia’s Matthew Goggin in the afternoon half of the draw at 12.10pm local time.
Campbell is also a former Australian Masters winner having won the event at Huntingdale in a brilliant 2000 season when he captured five tournaments.
“It’s always very special coming back to the Australian Masters as a former champion and that is the same with any tournament that you’ve won,” he said.
“However there is a lot more hype around the event this year because of Tiger’s presence, and I just can’t believe the excitement his visit has generated.
“We all knew the event was going to be special but this is the most interest I’ve seen in a golf tournament in Australia since maybe the Presidents Cup when it was staged here in Melbourne in 1998.
“It’s great that Tiger does travel because there’s not only a big crowd interest but all the players here this week have an extra spring in their steps.
“So it promises to be an exciting week and I’m really looking forward to the tournament.”