Tiger has yet to peak - Campbell

The best of Tiger Woods is yet to come – according to the only man to beat him in a major championship this year.

Woods won the Open at St Andrews at the weekend to add to the Masters title he clinched in April, taking his career tally of majors to 10.

The world number one also finished second to Michael Campbell in the US Open at Pinehurst, and the New Zealander feels there is plenty of room for improvement.

“Last week I think we saw him not as his best to be honest. I still think he went there not playing that great,” Campbell said ahead of this week’s Deutsche Bank tournament in Hamburg.

“I’ve seen Tiger play fantastic five years ago and to me that was awesome. He’s still an amazing golfer but I still feel we haven’t seen the best of Tiger. Scary thought.”

Campbell maintained his Pinehurst form over the Old Course, finishing in a tie for fifth place, and admitted he enjoyed the effusive praise of his colleagues.

“I could feel the respect they gave me on the driving range or on the putting green, it was fantastic,” added Campbell, who finished two shots ahead of Woods at Pinehurst.

“That’s a real buzz for me to have this respect from my peers, the likes of Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. All of the greats in the game of golf came up to me and shook my hand.

“Just to have that means a lot to me because I’ve seen these guys play when I was a little toddler. To have that mutual respect now is obviously a huge thing for me.”

Campbell’s victory was front page news in his native New Zealand – prime minister Helen Clark halting a cabinet meeting to watch the closing stages – and the Brighton-based 36-year-old revealed he will be honoured with two ticker-tape parades when he returns home on Monday.

“I think the last one through Auckland was for the America’s Cup winning [sailing] team about four years ago,” he added.

“It’s going to be great and I have a few parties organised as well.”