Michael Campbell of New Zealand collected his third victory of the 2000 season in unexpected circumstances at Gut Lärchenhof when the final round of the Linde German Masters was washed out due to torrential rain which left the fairways and bunkers unplayable.
The 31 year old Kiwi launched the season with a win in the Johnnie Walker Classic and followed it up with an impressive triumph in the Heineken Classic. However he felt that the year would not be complete without a win on European soil, and his prayers were answered in Cologne.
Campbell won the 54-hole tournament with rounds of 68, 64 and 65 for a 19 under par total of 197 – the first three-round event since the Alfred Dunhill Championship was curtailed in January. He finished one stroke clear of Argentinian José Coceres and two in front of Padraig Harrington and Colin Montgomerie.
Victory was worth 450,000 euro (£271,612) to Campbell and elevated him to fifth place in the increasingly competitive Volvo Order of Merit race, one place above Montgomerie and just behind Thomas Björn, who maintained his rich vein of form by taking fifth place in Cologne.
The leading six players in the Volvo Order of Merit are separated by less than £450,000 and there is everything to play for as the chase enters the final stretch with Lee Westwood – tied 11th in the Linde German Masters – heading the group pursued by Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Björn, Campbell and Montgomerie.
Campbell said: “This is the first time this has ever happened to me and it’s a bit of an anti-climax. However due to the circumstances the organizing committee decided to cancel the last round and I’m quite relieved about that.
“Your mind starts racing when you have to hang around the clubhouse for three hours and you start wondering about certain things. It was good to talk to the guys and kill time and try to distract my mind. It’s a shame that the heavens opened as I was looking forward to the challenge, but at the same time it’s nice to get that first win on European soil.”
Campbell, who has taken the week off to move house to Brighton, added: “Now I have a very good chance of winning the Volvo Order of Merit. That has been my goal this year and I am now looking forward to the Volvo Masters and the American Express Championship.”
Harrington and Sweden’s Patrik Sjöland had set the early pace with a first round 66 and Harrington then emulated that achievement on the second day to lead on 132,12 under par, with Campbell, who shot a 64. They were one in front of Coceres, who moved into second place on his own in the third round with a 65 which was matched by Campbell.
The Dubai Desert Classic winner commented: “I am a little bit disappointed because I know I had a chance to win. I was playing well, but I think the fairways were better for fish than golfers! Now I won to finish in the top ten in the Volvo Order of Merit.”
Montgomerie admitted it was a “disappointing” way to finish the tournament after sharing third place with Harrington. He had set the goal of two wins from his last three starts and now recognizes that, in all probability, he needs to win the Volvo Masters and American Express titles to be European No.1 for an eighth successive year.
Harrington said: “Third is nice but it’s nothing like a win. That’s basically the way I look at it, but I still take away a lot of good things. Two third place finishes in a row isn’t bad and augurs well for the next few weeks.”
Australian Adam Scott, a professional for less than four months, finished tied for sixth and won 71,496 euro (£43,153) to move to 100th place on the Volvo Order of Merit and secure his playing privileges for the 2001 season.
Final results and prize money
