Chad Campbell’s conservative approach paid off on Sunday as a 71 saw him win the $5-million Bob Hope Classic by three shots.
Campbell’s one-under effort gave him a five-round total of 25-under 335, three shots better than Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik and fellow American Scott Verplank.
Parnevik closed with a 67 and Verplank a 73 to share second on 338. John Huston was fourth after a 68 for 339. Phil Mickelson, the only top-10 player in the field, closed with a 71 to join a group on 341 that included Australian John Senden and Canadian Mike Weir.
It was the first time a winner shot a final round in the 70s here since Kenny Perry carded a 70 in 1995. Peter Jacobsen shot a 71 in the 1990 tournament to win.
It was uncharacteristic golf by Campbell, who had spent the previous four days tearing through the four courses used for this event.
Campbell made 23 birdies and an eagle over four days, compared with three birdies and an eagle in the final round.
More surprising were the two bogeys and one double bogey he made in the final round. In the previous four rounds he had two bogeys.
”I’m a little surprised I shot one-under,” Campbell said. ”To be able to win shooting one-under on Sunday doesn’t happen too often. I figured if I shot four-under it would be tough for anyone to catch me.”
Verplank tied Campbell three times on the front nine before an eagle on the par-five ninth gave Campbell a four-shot lead.
Campbell made a double bogey on the 10th that cut his lead to two and it was a one-stroke lead after another bogey on the 13th hole, but it could have been worse.
He hit his tee shot in the water on 13, and then hit his third shot in a bunker. The bunker shot — which was slightly uphill and provided no view of the hole — Campbell hit to six feet and made the bogey putt.
”I wasn’t thinking anything, I was a little upset there,” Campbell said. ”I just wanted to hit it solid. I was pretty happy about that shot.”
Then Campbell made two consecutive birdies to lengthen the lead to three, never to be threatened again.
Verplank had the best chance to win. Playing in the final group with Campbell, Verplank watched Campbell struggle on holes 10 to 13, but could only manage pars.
”If I played any good, I would have had a tremendous chance,” Verplank said. ”I need to get that figured out I guess. I’ve had that a couple of times here in the last year or two.”
Verplank has not won since the 2001 Bell Canadian Open and finished second twice in 2005.
”I want to win so bad,” Verplank said. ”Sometimes you just get so uptight. I don’t know. I think it’s just I’m going to have to find a comfort zone.”
Campbell certainly achieved that. After holding the final-round lead at last week’s Sony Open with David Toms, Campbell watched helplessly as Toms shot 65 to Campbell’s 70 to win the event.
Campbell was determined not to let that happen again.
”More than anything, I am proud of the ability to grind it out,” Campbell said, ”to stay mentally in the game after hitting those bad shots. That was important.”
The Classic Club provided a strong test in the final round. With the wind blowing, there were only 14 rounds in the 60s among the 77 golfers playing. The same golfers had 51 rounds in the 60s on Saturday. — Sapa-AFP