Michael Campbell is poised to win his second successive European Tour title after opening up a two-shot advantage over Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn in the Heineken Classic at The Vines Resort in Perth, Western Australia.
Campbell, who currently leads the Volvo Order of Merit following his victory in the season-opening Johnnie Walker Classic last November, is continuing a great run of form which also saw him win the Crown Lager New Zealand Open last Sunday. His round of 65, the best round of the tournament so far, in temperatures as high as 47 degrees centigrade, included eight birdies and took him to 14 under par and clear of the halfway leader Bjorn, winner here in 1998.
Bjorn, whose own form returned towards the end of last season with victory in the Sarazen World Open, now has his sights on a second Heineken Classic title and fifth European Tour victory. Four successive birdies from the ninth helped him to a third successive 68 to stay in touch with the New Zealander going into the final round.
Campbell said: "I don't think I've ever played better tee to green. With the hype of leading and Thomas playing so well, I lifted my game to an extra level.
"I'm riding the crest of a wave and when I play like this I think I can beat anybody in the world. But I can still see room for improvement. My expectations are a lot higher even than they were last week."
Bjorn added: "I have only ever seen one or two guys in my life play as well as Michael did.
"But I ran out of steam in the heat. I've had three frustrating days on the greens. I've played well enough to be leading by 10 shots.
Five players lie four shots adrift of the two leaders in the chasing pack, including Scotland’s Alistair Forsyth, the 23-year-old winner of the Qualifying School Finals. Forsyth, playing only his second European Tour event, set about proving his pedigree with a four under par 68. Indeed he had the chance to hold third place on his own but his nine-foot eagle putt on the last narrowly missed
He was joined in eight under par by Sweden’s Johan Skold, a graduate from the 1999 European Challenge Tour, Germany’s Alex Cjeka and the Australian pair of Stephen Leaney and Peter O’Malley.
A shot further back, and certainly not out of the hunt is the double US Open Champion Ernie Els.
