Michael Campbell flies back to Europe after a short break in Australia to defend his Linde German Masters title against a truly international field gathered at Gut Lärchenhof, Cologne, this week.
Campbell, whose last appearance in Europe was at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters, heads the cast of international players in Cologne. Also in action is Retief Goosen, the US Open Champion and Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Champion. Goosen currently heads the Volvo Order of Merit with 2,417,934 euro (£1,512,579) and, after being pipped for the Trophée Lancôme title two weeks ago, the South African will be aiming to go one better and claim a third title on The 2001 European Tour International Schedule.
Joining Campbell and Goosen in Cologne are no fewer than seven other international players who have won on the 2001 European Tour International Schedule - Australians Adam Scott (Alfred Dunhill Championship) and Peter O'Malley (The Compass Group English Open), Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez (Omega European Masters), Darren Fichardt of South Africa (Sao Paulo Brazil Open), Zimbabweans Mark McNulty (Mercedes-Benz South African Open) and Tony Johnstone (Qatar Masters), and John Daly from America (BMW International Open).
The international stars will face the cream of European golf, led by Darren Clarke, currently second in the Volvo Order of Merit, 681,367 euro (£426,240) behind Goosen. Clarke will be hoping to close the gap at the top as the 2001 season nears its conclusion.
Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Niclas Fasth are also all in action, as is last season's European Number One, Lee Westwood.
The field is further augmented by the presence of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Paul Lawrie, José Maria Olazábal and Ian Woosnam who join Goosen and Daly as Major Championship winners in the starting line-up.
Indeed, Langer will be seeking his fourth Linde German Masters title - following victories in 1989, 1991 and 1997 - and his 11th title in total on home soil.
Twelve months ago Campbell completed the most productive year of his career by adding the Linde German Masters title to the Johnnie Walker Classic he won the previous November and the Heineken Classic in January. The New Zealander finished the 54-hole tournament, reduced due to flooding on the final day, one ahead of Coceres. Campbell successfully defended his Heineken Classic title in February and will be aiming to repeat that feat this week.
