SYDNEY-BASED Kiwi golf star Michael Campbell has decided enough is enough. After a nightmare appearance and two disastrous rounds at last month’s US Masters, Campbell has decided to take an extended break from competitive golf.
He made the decision shortly after shooting rounds of 83-81 to crash out for a 10th year at Augusta National in the first Major of the year. Campbell made it 10 missed half-way cuts in a similar number of Masters appearances, heading up Magnolia Lane with an embarrassing 20-over par tally.
The former US Open champion declared he would withdraw from last month’s Spanish Open and the following week’s Italian Open. Campbell hinted he might also sit out the US Open at Pebble Beach from June 17, just five years after holding off Tiger Woods to win his first and only Major at Pinehurst.
Campbell’s first round score at Augusta was his highest by three strokes and was the sixth time he’d posted rounds in the 80s in a dozen hits this season. He carded an 83 on the first day of the Abu Dhabi Championship, an 81 on day one of the Dubai Desert Classic and scores of 80 and 81 in the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational. But while Campbell was obviously hurting badly, to his enormous credit he spoke to members of the media after his horror second round of his continuing Augusta National anguish.
“It’s been a pretty miserable start of the year for me and once again mentally it’s just not there and I need get away from the game a little bit for maybe for a month or even six months,” he said.
“Who knows? I just need to get myself sorted out mentally because it’s just not working and Michael Campbell should not be shooting these scores.
“It’s as simple as that.
“I am realistic and I know I need to work on a few things and I need to get myself better-prepared mentally.
“This week is always a little different because it can really get to you and if you don’t bring your A game it makes you look like an idiot.
“So I just really need to go home and sort myself out.
“On a course like Augusta National there is nowhere to hide and it just magnifies all your bad things and for two days I’ve been pretty bad.
“This is 10 times I’ve played Augusta and 10 times I’ve missed the cut so it hasn’t been kind to me at all.”
Campbell was quizzed, given his poor start to the season, why he even came to Augusta National sporting an already sinking heart having never played well around the Georgia layout.
“No, as a professional player you want to have that hope that it might just turn and everyone whose seen golfers knows that one week or one day can turn a guy’s confidence around,” he said.
“That’s the story of my career and this week is pretty much the worst I’ve felt about my performances since I’ve turned professional.
“I have felt worse before but not as bad as this week so that’s why it’s time to do something about it because this is ridiculous as I shouldn’t be hitting the shots I’m hitting.
“I need to confront it and just rectify it. Enough is enough.”
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