Campbell surprised to win classic

CHAD CAMPBELL admitted that he did not believe his final round of 71 would be good enough to win the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in California.

The 31-year-old American claimed his first US Tour victory for 22 months by three shots from compatriot Scott Verplank and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik.

Campbell, who finished on 25 under par at 335, moves up to fourth in the US Ryder Cup standings as a result.

"I'm a little surprised to win shooting one under on Sunday because it doesn't happen too often," he said. "I figured if I shot four under it would be tough for anyone to catch me."

Verplank tied Campbell three times on the front nine before an eagle on the par-five ninth hole gave Campbell a four-shot lead. Campbell then had a double-bogey on the 10th that cut his lead to two and it was a one-stroke lead after another bogey on the 13th hole but it could have been worse.

He hit his tee shot in the water on 13, then hit his third shot in a bunker. The bunker shot, which was slightly uphill and provided no view of the hole, was hit to six feet and Campbell made the bogey putt.

Verplank had the chance to win as he was playing in the final group with Campbell and saw him struggle from the 10th to the 13th, but could only manage pars.

"If I played any good I would have had a tremendous chance," Verplank said.

Parnevik, out of contention until a 62 on Saturday, had been one behind with three to play, but bogeyed the 16th and 67 was not good enough to give him a first win on the circuit since 2001.

A drive into water on the eighth left England's Justin Rose with no hope of achieving his maiden US success.

Meanwhile, the French Open's 100th anniversary will come this summer with a prize fund of £2.85m and a new sponsor in power company Alstom.

The oldest Open event on continental Europe will take place at Le Golf National near Paris on June 29 to July 2.