Rusty Campbell misses the cut in comeback at NZ Open

Michael Campbell’s return to competitive golf won’t go beyond two rounds.

The 2005 US Open winner has missed the cut (top-60 plus ties) at the 100th New Zealand Open, after a carding a sluggish two-over-par 73 at Arrowtown’s Millbrook course yesterday.

On top of his even-par 72 at The Hills the previous day, it left him well below the projected cut line of two-under par.

Campbell, playing in his first competitive tournament in almost six years, was on track to feature at The Hills during the weekend after carding two birdies on the back nine (he started on the 10th), and a third to start the front nine.

However, it quickly turned to custard with a triple bogey, followed by a double bogey and bogey.

‘‘Look, I had the juices going for a little bit . . . like the old days a little bit, it came back very, very quickly,’’ Campbell said.

‘‘Unfortunately, I made the triple [on the par-four third] and that’s the way it is. I can still walk away from this week feeling pretty proud of myself.’’

World No 67 Ryan Fox and Harry Bateman, who went into the second round in a three-way share of the lead with Australian Zach Murray and Japan’s Ryuko Tokimatsu, are the leading Kiwis at nine-under.

Fox was particularly impressive as the afternoon breeze picked up at The Hills, where he shot a six-under 66 to go with Thursday’s threeunder 68 at Millbrook.

The 32-year-old Aucklander knocked in eight birdies on the day, including two on the bounce to start his round, and one on the par-four 18th to grab a share of third place, seven shots behind outright leader Murray.

‘‘I’ve given myself that [a chance]. Obviously Zach is playing some decent golf,’’ Fox said.

‘‘But I thought it was pretty tough out there this afternoon. To shoot six-under, and to have a good chance at the weekend, I thought that was pretty good.’’

Campbell, who plans to kick on and play the European Senior Tour and PGA Champions Tour, has no doubt what he needs to do as he eyes up the next step in his comeback.

‘‘My putting, my chipping, my pitching came back very quickly. My driving right now is pretty average.

‘‘I need to work on that a little bit before I start my senior tour in April.’’

Bateman shot a one-under 70 at Millbrook to improve to nine-under heading into the weekend.

His four birdies were all but offset by three consecutive bogeys through holes 13-15.

Robert van Royen