Long Day In The Office For Campbell & Co
Bernie McGuire, Hilversum
Thursday, 8th September, 2011
It’s been a long day for Michael Campbell and those European Tour colleagues out in the afternoon half of the draw on day one of the KLM Open in Holland.
Acts of vandalism and then nearly four hours lost due to rain did Campbell and others little favour.
Vandals attacked the fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth greens overnight on the Hilversum course forcing firstly a 45-minute delay to the start of play.
But then when the tournament did get underway just over four hours was lost due near lunch to persistent heavy rain that has the tree-lined Dutch course bordering on unplayable should there be any further showers.
England’s Simon Dyson and Germany’s Marcel Siem head the field after posting five under par 70s.
The afternoon half of the draw didn’t start their rounds to late in the day including reigning U.S. Open champ, Rory McIlroy who got to the course at 11.30am (local time) and didn’t tee-off to 5.45pm.
However the current World No. 4 was soon struggling on the greens as he did last week in Switzerland when McIlroy missed a three-footer for birdie at the first.
McIlroy was then seen slapping the face of his putter when he missed a similar putt for par at the third.
Campbell was out three groups behind his fellow U.S. Open champion and not managing to send his opening drive down the fairway to around 6.15pm.
Poor light halted play some one hour and 45 minutes later with Campbell managing to play just seven holes that included two birdies and two pars and remain at level par.
“It’s been a really long day because I got here to the course around 11.30am but then the staff have done well to get the course playable as there’s been so much rain,” he said.
“I don’t think the course can take much more as there’s pools of water everywhere while there’s a couple of greens, like the third, really bordering on unplayable.
“So it’s back to the hotel to grab a bite to eat and then be ready for the start, rain permitting, in the morning.”
Play will recommence at 8.15am local time.
