Reuters
Sunday, February 4

PERTH, Australia -- Defending champion Michael Campbell won the Heineken Classic by five strokes Sunday and declared he was ready to do well at the majors.

"It's time to go to the next level," said Campbell, ranked No. 16 in the world. "I want to be a contender in majors. My ultimate aim is to win a major, and I feel my game is shaping up well."

Campbell shot a final-round 64 a total of 18-under 270 to beat David Smail, who finished five back after carding a 66.

Nick O'Hern missed a 15-foot putt for birdie on the last hole which would have tied him for second with Smail.

O'Hern led Campbell by two strokes going into Sunday's round, but carded an 8 on the par-4 sixth hole to slip to 10-under after nine holes. O'Hern finished at 12-under 276.

Jarrod Moseley, who won the event in 1999, tied for fourth at 11-under 277 with Paul Devenport, Steen Tinning and Dean Robertson.

Campbell won the Classic, jointly sanctioned by the European and Australasian PGA Tours, by six shots last year with a record score of 20-under 268 and followed up with a four-round total of 18-under 270 this year.

Campbell's 64 was one stroke shy of the course record set by Padraig Harrington in 1993.

When Campbell sunk a tough 15-foot putt for birdie at the par-4 11th hole to go five strokes ahead, the tournament was safely in his keeping.

"One hole shouldn't make a difference to a golf tournament, but maybe it did for me," O'Hern said of his sixth-hole blunder. "When Michael is on his game, he is just as good as anyone."