CAMPBELL RETURNS TO TA SHEE FOR BMW ASIAN OPEN

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell is slowly recovering from the disappointment of missing a putt to win the World Cup, but will have his spirits lifted this week at the BMW Asian Open by returning to the course that re-ignited his career in 1999.

The Kiwi star missed a 25-footer on the final hole last Sunday to win the World Cup with David Smail in Japan before losing to South Africa in a play-off.

It was a missed chance for Campbell, who this week competes in the US$1.5 million BMW Asian Open at the Westin Resort Ta Shee, which is where he won the Johnnie Walker Classic two years ago.

The inaugural BMW Asian Open is the richest event to be played in Asia and also boasts Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez, England’s Nick Faldo and Fiji’s Vijay Singh.

The BMW Asian Open is being joint-sanctioned by the Asian PGA-run Davidoff Tour and the European Tour. It’s the penultimate leg of this year’s Davidoff Tour but the opening event of Europe’s 2001/2002 season.

While the memory of that missed putt in the World Cup is still fresh on Campbell’s mind it was another shot that came back to haunt him last night.

Said Campbell: “It was actually another hole that gave me a bit of a flashback last night and that was the 14th where I missed the green with a wedge. That sort of got me going a bit last night.”

Campbell and Smail were paired with the United States team of Tiger Woods and David Duval in a gripping final round.

“It was fun to have a putt for the World Cup. I knew that I wasn’t playing for myself but playing for my country. I was really excited about the whole thing especially playing with the two best players in the world. Things just went mad when Tiger chipped in for eagle,” added Campbell.

Campbell competed in the BMW Asian Open shootout today, and the memories of his victory two years ago came flooding back.

“I can remember a lot about the tournament two years ago. I can actually recall all four rounds. I’ll be able to feed off all the positive affirmations. I am pretty confident heading into this week and looking forward to getting started. It’s been a long season for me and it’s been quite indifferent. I have been playing great in patches,” added the New Zealander.

For Korea’s Charlie Wi, who leads the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit, the lucrative BMW event is crucial to his chances of finishing the year as Asia’s number one.

“Now that we are down to the final two tournaments I think about it a lot more. I know that if I keep playing my own game everything will sort itself out. I feel like I am one of the top players here so I expect myself to do well,” said Wi.

Wi has won three times this year and currently leads Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee by about US$77,000. “I am definitely swinging the club a little bit better but you can’t tell with this game. Just because you are swinging well doesn’t mean you’ll score well,” said the Korean.