Golf: Campbell criticises US tour chiefs

Michael Campbell has taken time out from his pursuit of another European victory to blast the US Tour for what he sees as its closed shop attitude.

The Brighton-based New Zealander, whose dazzling opening 62 sent him into today four strokes clear in the rain-hit Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg, has made no secret of his wish to make his name in America.

But he said: ‘‘Unfortunately, they’ve brought in a rule where the world championship events don’t count towards their Order of Merit. I think it’s totally ridiculous.

‘‘It’s one of those things where the US Tour are making it a bit harder for the foreign players to go and play there full-time.

‘‘It’s a bit tough on the likes of myself and other guys who want to play more there.’’

At 10-under-par, Campbell is already seven ahead of world number one Tiger Woods as the £1.68m event tries to make up for the seven hours lost yesterday.

Half the 156-strong field were unable to get on to the course yesterday and while they are scheduled for 36 holes today, Campbell and Woods are not due to tee off again until nearly 6pm.

They are resigned therefore to having to finish their second rounds tomorrow morning.

After injuries and loss of form sent Campbell plummeting down the world rankings in 1996 - he even lost his tour card and thought he might have to go back to his old job as a telephone engineer - it was a win over Woods that revived his whole career.

That came in the Johnnie Walker Classic at the end of 1999. It was his first European tour success, but three more have come since and he is up to 18th in the world.

Another victory might have come in the English Open last season. He began with a 64 there and led by a tour record six shots. But he was reeled in by Darren Clarke then and eventually lost by one.

It will take something unbelievable for Clarke to deny him the £278,000 jackpot this weekend. Paired with Woods and Colin Montgomerie, the Ulsterman slumped to a 76 and so is 14 adrift.

Montgomerie, yet to win a tournament in which Woods is playing, recovered from a bad start to shoot 70, but both he and the Masters, Open, US Open and US PGA champion will have to play better than they did yesterday to have a hope of catching Campbell.

Woods stated: ‘‘I really didn’t play all that good, but good enough to get myself in the ball game.’’

Campbell is wise enough not to discount the possibility of duelling with Woods still.

‘‘I’m experienced enough now to know that, nice though it is to lead, the most important thing is to hold the trophy at the end of the week,’’ he commented.

‘‘Seven shots ahead of Tiger Woods is nothing with three rounds to go.’’

Defending champion Lee Westwood and world number three Ernie Els are joint-second with Argentina’s Eduardo Romero and Australian Lucas Parsons, but they also had long waits before teeing off again this evening.

‘‘I can’t even remember starting a round at 6.10(pm),’’ said Westwood. ‘‘I’m normally settling down to watch Emmerdale.’’

Westwood, as last year, appears to have been spurred on by the mere presence of Woods.

‘‘I’d say I’ve improved 20% to 60% from last week,’’ he said after his round. ‘‘I wasn’t entirely on my game, but if you can shoot 66 when that’s the case you’ve got to be happy.’’