Campbell pleased with runner up spot

Moving up to 26th in the world rankings was the consolation Chad Campbell received for his runner-up finish behind Shaun Micheel in the year's final major, the U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill on Sunday. But world rankings and runner-up finishes were not part of the plan when the two Americans teed off in the last group in the final round.

When the day was done and Campbell had carded a two-over-par 72 to lose out by two shots, he reflected proudly on his best display in a major championship.

"It is very difficult to get yourself in that position in the last group of a major championship," the 29-year-old told reporters.

"But I've got to think, you know, take positives out of today, the way that I played coming down the stretch. I've got to use that maybe next time that I get in that position."

Campbell had played in only seven major championships before this week. He tied for 35th at the U.S. Open in June and was mentioned as a dark horse here after tying for eighth at the Western Open and 15th at the British Open.

In a year of first-timers winning majors, it was not out of the realms of possibility that Campbell could capture his first victory.

"Last night I was very excited," Campbell said. "I wasn't nervous.

"It was just more of being really excited about the day and the position I had got myself into."

But Campbell made a bogey on the first hole and followed with more dropped shots on the sixth and seventh to fall from four-under-par to one-under, forcing him to play catch-up on the back nine.

By the time Campbell parred the 17th and Micheel bogeyed, the deficit was one stroke. But Micheel hit a seven-iron approach at the last to two inches from the cup for a birdie.

The best Campbell could achieve was a par. "It was a little crazy, a little back and forth," he said of the final holes.

"I just tried to stay patient and let things happen and give myself a chance at the end."

Campbell booked a ticket to the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio, next week and rose to 13th on the final Presidents Cup money list.

"I'm pretty pleased with the way I played," Campbell said. "I sure wish I could have got a couple more of those putts to drop."

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