Michael Campbell holds on to Target World Challenge lead

In a year built around positive thinking, U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell had to dig deep Friday after dropping four shots over his last four holes for an even-par 72 in the Target World Challenge.

"I've actually increased my lead by one shot," Campbell said.

But only because he wasn't alone in his struggles.

Campbell hit a 5-iron into the hazard on the 18th hole and made double bogey, but those trying to chase him also stumbled down the stretch at Sherwood Country Club, leaving him three ahead of Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

Campbell was one of only four players who failed to break par on a gorgeous day in the foothills that separate Conejo Valley from the Pacific Ocean. He was at 9-under 135 heading into the weekend in the 16-man event that pays $1.3 million to the winner.

Harrington (70) and Clarke (73) each bogeyed the 18th hole.

Kenny Perry was the only player who appeared capable of running with Campbell until he made bogey on the par-5 16th, then took double bogey on the final hole for a 70. He was at 139 with Fred Couples, who had a bogey-free 68.

Tournament host Tiger Woods butchered the par-5 11th and made double bogey, and couldn't get anything else going in a round of 72 that left him nine shots behind, just two shots away from last place. He has either won or finished second since his tournament moved to Sherwood in 2000.

"I'm just having a hard time with it," Woods said.

Campbell again was having an easy time with his round. One day after tying the course record with a 63 for a two-shot lead over Clarke, he built his lead to as many as five shots until it all fell apart.

"I was just cruising along there," he said. "I got too ahead of myself and it cost me a few shots."

It started on the par-3 15th, which drops down to a green protected by water in front and a foothill behind it. Campbell was between a 7-iron and an 8-iron, and went over the green with the 7-iron. He chipped to 10 feet and missed the putt, then missed a 2-foot par putt on the 17th hole.

He still had a four-shot lead going to the 18th, but again found himself between clubs from 191 yards away with a stiff breeze in his face.

"It was sitting down a little bit, so I tried to dig out a little 5-iron that came out left on me," he said. "And just with the breeze from right to left, it magnified the shot to be an ugly shot."

The ball came short and in the rocky pond. He took a drop 75 yards away, hit a pitch to 6 feet and missed the putt.

"Ever see that movie, `The Good, The Bad And The Ugly?' Clint Eastwood? I saw that today," Campbell said. "I hit some quality shots, some (bad) shots and some average shots. It was a different day compared with yesterday. I had it going quite nicely. And then the wheels came off. And the wheels came off very, very quickly.

"But you know," he added, "I'm going to stand on the tee tomorrow three shots ahead."

He will be paired with Harrington, who won this event two years ago, and is another reminder for Campbell that despite a bad finish, even a tournament that hands out money, it's still just a game.

Campbell learned that lesson being around Heather Clarke, Clarke's wife who has been battling cancer the last three years and now is home in London going through chemotherapy.

Harrington is coming off a year of extreme highs and lows.

He won on the PGA Tour for the first time this year at the Honda Classic, and returned home to Ireland to learn that his father was dying of cancer. Harrington won again at the Barclays Classic, making an 80-foot eagle on the last hole. His father died about two weeks later.

Harrington has tried to stick to his schedule of playing a steady dose of tournaments and working hard as ever on his game. But as the season ends, he desperately needs a break.

The Irishman probably won't play again until the Nissan Open at Riviera.

"The nine weeks are very important to me," he said. "I've got a lot of things planned for that time, and that's the only way I'm going to ... get closure on those sort of things and come out strong next year."

The emotions have wrecked him so much he suspect he lost some 15 yards off the tee. Adding to the trauma of losing his father was the euphoria of his PGA Tour victories.

"The two wins have made the year more stressful than anything else because I obviously got quite high when I won, and to be taken down so quickly, it's a bigger knock-back for the body than anything," he said.

December 10, 2005

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