Former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell is determined to end his Hilversum hoodoo in this week’s Centenary Dutch Open.
The Euro 1.8m event is being staged at the Hilversumsche Golf Club course for the third straight year ahead of moving back to Kennemer in 2013.
Michael Campbell working on his game ahead of this week’s Dutch Open – note half tennis ball under right foot. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Campbell made his debut in the 1993 at Noodwikjse on the Dutch coastline however on the three of the four occasions he’s teed-up in Hilversum, including the last two years, the New Zealander has missed the cut.
The only time he played all four rounds on the Hilversum course first laid out by Harry Burrows in 1922 was in finishing T27th in 1998.
But after some recent good results, including 14th in last week’s Omega European Masters, Campbell’s hopeful of breaking the hoodoo.
“I’ve struggled on this course in the past but only because we’ve always seemed to have had rain every time we play here,” he said.
“But this year the weather forecast is good and already the course is playing really hard and fast, and how it should play.
“It’s a great old style tree-lined course where driving is going to be the key.”
And in that regard, Campbell was observed working hard on the range under the watchful eye of caddy, John Whyte and working on a shorter backswing as introduced his game by coach, Jonathon Yarwood.
“I started working with Jonathon again at the end of May and I’ve had a few good results since then including 11th at the French Open and then 14th last week in Switzerland,” said Campbell.
“That’s all due to working again with Jonathon, so it’s nice to see the results coming back again.
“It’s fair to say I got away for about three to four years on what Jonathon had brought into my game but now he’s got back working on the same stuff that helped me win so many tournaments around the world.
“The proof is in the pudding and the results are coming.”
And while delighted to be again working with Yarwood, Campbell revealed what has pleased him most is Yarwood’s decision to leave the U.S. and return to living and working in the U.K.
“It means that Jonathon and myself will be able to see a lot more of each other and it will be easier for him to attend European Tour events,” said Campbell.
Campbell will play the opening two rounds in the company of England’s Lee Slattery and Italian Lorenzo Gagli teeing up at 9.20am (local time) Thursday and at 2.20pm Friday.
Slattery recently finished T8th with Tiger Woods and Luke Donald at the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.
* For those interested following Michael Campbell’s progress on the European Tour go to:- www.cambogolf.com
