Quiet man Campbell's TOUR career is lyrical inspiration

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Chad Campbell has won four times on TOUR, and he has had a terrific season in 2009, but he still wants more out of it.

Oct. 21, 2009
By Stan Awtrey, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

Somebody ought to write a country song about Chad Campbell.

It's only fitting since he's from Texas (just like Boxcar Willie and Waylon Jennings) and his wife, Amy, is a professional country singer who probably knows a few tunes about tractors, dogs and pickup trucks.

How about this one? "My Victory Column Is as Dry as the Oil Well in Uncle Verlyn's Backyard."

Campbell is coming off a loss in a playoff against Martin Laird in last week's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children's Open. It was his second playoff loss of the season; he (and Kenny Perry) was defeated in sudden death at the Masters back in the spring.

That's more than enough heartache for one season, perhaps enough to inspire this one: "That Green Jacket Don't Mean Nothin' Without Your Love."

It's really a shame, because Campbell has quietly gone about having a pretty solid season. That's nothing unusual; Campbell always goes about his business in a quiet manner. He's a pleasant and polite man who does nothing outside the ropes to call attention to himself. This year he has won $1.69 million (No. 48 on the money list) and he has improved to No. 44 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Since joining the TOUR in 2001, Campbell has earned $18.2 million and played on three Ryder Cup teams.

He has also won four times, which would be considered pretty good if it weren't for the fact that a national magazine saddled him with high expectations by naming him one of the game's rising stars. Campbell won THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola in 2003, just two years after dominating the Nationwide Tour (three wins, 13 top-25s).

"I don't pay that much attention to it," Campbell said at Augusta. "I obviously have not done as much as I would like to since I've been on TOUR, but I'm only 35. I have a little ways to go, so hopefully I can win a few more times before I'm done."

Campbell has now competed in 55 tournaments since his last victory at the 2007 Viking Classic. During that time, he has been runner-up three times, finished third on two occasions, carded 10 top-10s, and 23 times been in the top 25.

He has the kind of game that can put him in contention at many places. He drives the ball well and is an excellent ball striker, both reasons why Paul Azinger selected him to play on the 2008 Ryder Cup team. This season, Campbell ranks 10th in greens in regulation (68.9 percent).

But the problem is putting, where he ranks 93rd; he was 37th last season. When he's hot, Campbell can get it rolling, like when he opened the 2009 Masters with a record five consecutive birdies in the first round. The trouble is in the mid-range putts; he's making 54.29 percent of the 5-10 footers (ranking him No. 120) and 26.23 percent of the 10-15 footers (ranking him No. 152).

How about this song? "That Flat Stick's Done Hurt Me Again."

Last week in Las Vegas was a good week on the greens for Campbell. "I was able to hang around and make some putts and make some birdies to get myself in position and get myself into the playoff," he said. "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it done."

Campbell was trying to become the first player with UNLV ties to win there. He got in the mix for the first time since the spring and enjoyed the challenge. "It's what I play golf for, to be in this situation," Campbell said. "That's what makes it fun. Playing for 40th, 50th spot on Sunday is not very fun."

This week, Campbell will be among of the top names competing in the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Ariz. With the momentum he built last week, he'll be one of the faces to watch at the Grayhawk Golf Club, where he will be playing for the first time. A victory to end his drought would certainly be worthy of a country song. The lyric-inspiring performance is up to him.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.