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| | Sunday, 7 July, 2002, 15:24 GMT 16:24 UK Campbell stumbles to victory Michael Campbell nearly threw it away New Zealand's Michael Campbell clinched a dramatic victory in the European Open despite bogeying the last four holes. As he left the 14th at the K Club, near Dublin, Campbell was on 10 under par and five strokes clear of Ireland's Padraig Harrington. It looked as though he was on course for a comfortable victory but the New Zealander then bogeyed the 15th and 16th, and with Harrington birdieing the 15th his lead was cut to three. Harrington produced a remarkable five on the 16th after visiting the water and when Campbell bogeyed the same hole his lead was down to two.
The New Zealander then bogeyed the 17th as well, but Harrington also dropped a shot to ease the pressure. Both players put their approach shots into the water at the 18th, but Campbell managed to get a six and clinch a one-stroke victory. Campbell said of his wobble: "I was thinking of the consequences of winning and my mind was racing too far ahead. "It's one of those things that happened - I'm just relieved." Harrington scrambled a par to finish on five under and take a share of second with Bradley Dredge, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and 2001 US Open champion Retief Goosen.
But the Irishman admitted he was disappointed at being unable to take advantage when Campbell faltered. He said: "I'm gutted. Michael got so much ahead he saw the winning post and started to bleed. "To be honest it was a chance for anybody else to win the tournament. Certainly for me." Colin Montgomerie finished with a 72 to end on four under par alongside Angel Cabrera and Niclas Fasth. "I played terribly, scored terribly and deserved what I got. End of story," said the Scot, who would have gone back to the top of the Order of Merit if he had won. Meanwhile, Darren Clarke finished with his best round of the tournament. The Ryder Cup stalwart carded a five-under-par 67, to finish on one under for the tournament. | |
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