Michael Campbell proved that dusk or dawn, it all comes the same to him, as the New Zealander continued his bid to gallop his rivals into the ground as the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open TPC of Europe reached the halfway stage at St.Leon-Rot.
Campbell, who teed off in his second round after 5pm on Friday night and scorched into action with four birdies in the first five holes, concluded his round at 8.30am with a further three birdies in the closing four holes.
As the halfway cut was made at high noon on Saturday, Campbell found himself out in front by six strokes from Eduardo Romero with a 17 under par total of 127. Numerically, Campbell’s tally couldn’t match Frankie Minoza’s 125 in the Caltex Singapore Masters – a European Tour record – but his number under par does equal that record.
Campbell, chasing his fifth European Tour title after a career renaissance in the past 18 months, admitted he foresaw his excellent form earlier this week – even though he had missed the cut in last week’s Benson and Hedges International Open.
He said: “I actually had a premonition on Wednesday. I told my personal trainer, Dale Richardson, that Tiger and I would shoot in the twenties under par. Unfortunately I couldn’t forsee the outcome!”
With two rounds remaining, it seems certain that Campbell will be correct in one half of his crystal ball gazing. The other part may be tougher to realise as Woods, the champion two years ago at St.Leon-Rot, added a 68 to his opening 69 for stand seven under par, ten behind the Kiwi.
Woods, though, is no quitter and said: “Ten behind? Wel, who know? Hopefully I can go out this afternoon and post a low number and see where we finish. I’ve played in spurts – some good shots at times and some shots that aren’t that good.”
The World Number One was assisted by two eagles – a chip-in at the fifth before play was halted last night and another thanks to a long putt at the 16th today – as he finished one behind playing partner, Colin Montgomerie, who fired a six under par 66 for 136.
However the real fireworks in that particular group came from the third member of the trio, Darren Clarke. Standing five over par when he arrived dressed for action in the morning, he produced an improbable finish of birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-par for 29 home, a round of 67 and total of 143 – right on the cut mark!
He said ruefully: “My private plane is standing on the runway ready to take me home! I’ve got to check back into the hotel and cancel appointments I made for tomorrow. I just wanted to get out of the way of Monty and Tiger and I can’t explain where that finish came from.”
Romero, whose early season was interrupted when he suffered a serious dog bite which took over two months to heal, shot a 67 to follow his 66. He is Campbell’s nearest pursuer on 133, but was in awe of the New Zealand pace setter.
“Michael’s golf is unbelievable” he said. “I played with him last week and he missed the cut, but his playing partner, Miguel Angel Jiménez, told me last night he is playing perfect golf.”
Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who shared second place last week at The De Vere Belfry, continued his rich vein of form, tagging a 65 onto his opening 69 for a total of 134 and third spot.
He said: “I am enjoying myself. It’s a lot of fun at the moment. Last week I came up against a guy who played the golf of his life (Henrik Stenson) and it looks as if it’s the same again this week.”