Campbell takes a major step forward

Michael Campbell displayed the form he hopes will make him a contender for majors this season to run away with the Heineken Classic for the second successive year in Perth yesterday.

Four behind with 17 holes to play, the 31-year-old produced the lowest round of the week - a 10birdie 64 - and finished up winning the £123,449 title by five shots from fellow New Zealander David Smail.

Last January, Campbell captured the crown by six with a 20under-par total of 268. This time he closed on 18-under, but his domination was the same.

"My next ambition is to go head-to-head with Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, David Duval or whomever on the last day of a major," he said. "I have proved that it's time to go to the next level and I want to compete against the best in the best tournaments."

Campbell has already made no secret of two other targets he has for 2001 - to win the European Order of Merit and to climb from 14th in the world rankings at the start of the year into the top five by the end of it.

The way he destroyed an admittedly under-strength field - the only other players in the world's leading 45 were Thomas Bjorn and Pierre Fulke - made neither goal look beyond his capabilities.

Australian Nick O'Hern, the man who led by four after an opening birdie, but who could never recover from taking eight on the 437-yard sixth, said: "When Michael is on his game he is as good as anybody. He was on fire - you just have to take your hat off to somebody shooting a 64 on the last day."

The round was only one off The Vines course record held by Padraig Harrington, and Campbell's 20-foot attempt to eagle the last and equal the Irishman's effort was only a fraction away.

Smail, trying for an amazing third successive victory on the Australasian circuit, did eagle the hole and with that pipped O'Hern for the runners-up spot.

Scotland's Dean Robertson, meanwhile, hit back from two early bogeys for a 70 which gave him a share of fourth place.

He was in awe of Campbell as well. Playing just ahead of him, the Paisley golfer said: "All I could hear were cheers, cheers, cheers - that's a world-class score he's produced there." Unfortunately, cheers were not all that O'Hern heard partnering Campbell.

From Perth himself, O'Hern refused to elaborate on what he described as "a few ugly comments", adding only: "It's part of golf. In any sport it's going to come up. It's the way people are these days when they maybe have a few drinks too many."

An observant spectator cost South African golfer Roger Wessels a substantial payday. Wessels was disqualified after tournament officials investigated and verified a claim that he had incorrectly replaced his ball on the 18th green during Saturday's third round.

The South African, who hasn't won since 1994, was well-placed going into yesterday's final 18 holes at seven-under-par and in equal seventh place, a position worth more than $50,000 Australian in prize money.

However, European Tour chief referee John Paramour had no option but to disqualify Wessels after viewing video replays of the incident yesterday.

Wessels was disqualified under rule 20-3, for not including a twostroke penalty on his signed scorecard after Saturday's round.