Campbell eyes Singapore success

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, winner of the 2005 US Open, is relishing the prospect of playing in next month’s Barclays Singapore Open as it was on Asian soil that he found his feet in the professional ranks.

Earlier this week the Kiwi star along with American Fred Couples and Nick O’Hern from Australia were confirmed as the latest marquee names to play the US$3 million event, which will be staged at Sentosa Golf Club from September 7 to 10.

“I am really looking forward to playing in the Barclays Singapore Open as I have got such a good record of achievements in Asia,” said Campbell.

Campbell won the Alfred Dunhill Masters in Indonesia in 1995 for his second win as a professional and recorded his breakthrough win on the European Tour in 2000 claiming the Johnnie Walker Classic in Taipei.

With a wealth of great memories in the region plus last year’s US Open title tucked firmly under his belt he heads to the Barclays Singapore Open in buoyant mood.

“Winning in Asia has been important to me in my career and here I am now heading to Singapore as a Major winner and that will be nice.

”I’ve played in Singapore many times and I like visiting Singapore as it is so vibrant and also a very clean city and that always makes travelling to Singapore attractive,” added Campbell.

The New Zealander, who has triumphed eight times on the European Tour, is looking forward to playing the Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club for the first time and is hoping to get the better of some of his illustrious peers.

He said: “I’ve played a few courses in Singapore but I haven’t played Sentosa though I’ve been told it’s a great set-up with great views out over the water.

“There’s a good field competing too with Ernie (Els), Lee (Westwood) and Adam (Scott) defending so it will be good to take some money off those guys.”

An outstanding line up is set for the Barclays Singapore Open, which is a full field event on the Asian Tour.

Defending champion Australian Adam Scott, who won last year by seven strokes, South Africa’s Ernie Els, Lee Westwood from England, Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, Angel Cabrera from Argentina and Japan’s Shingo Katayama were announced in May.

News of Couples’ participation in the event will also be greeted enthusiastically by golf fans in Singapore.

The popular American, who won the US Masters in 1992, is no stranger to the region having played here on numerous occasions.

He finished joint second in last year’s SK Telecom Open in Korea and also competed in the Macau Open.

Few forget his victory in the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic in the Philippines where huge crowds flocked to watch the free swinging American, who has won 15 times on the US PGA Tour and played in five Ryder Cups.

Lefthander O’Hern competed at Sentosa last year and as one of the straightest hitters in the game he will be one of the favourites again this year.

August 11, 2006

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