PORTMARNOCK (Ireland), July 28: New Zealander Michael Campbell shattered Thomas Bjorn’s hopes of a quick comeback from his British Open misery on Sunday when he won a sudden-death three-man playoff for the Irish Open.

Campbell hit to just six inches on the first playoff hole then tapped in for the birdie to disappoint Denmark’s Bjorn for a second successive Sunday and leave Swede Peter Hedblom sharing second place.

The trio had finished on 11-under-par 277, two strokes ahead of the field, with Hedblom setting the target with a three-under-par 68.

Campbell and Bjorn, who had tied for the lead going into the final round with Britain’s David Lynn, both shot 71s.

After the shootout was delayed for an hour because of a thunderstorm, Campbell finally revived a poor season by hitting his nine-iron 146 yards and almost holing out at the first sudden-death hole.

Bjorn was left having to settle for second best again after throwing away a three-shot lead the previous week at Royal St George’s in the British Open and handing the title to American rookie Ben Curtis.

Campbell was also delighted to win in front of his parents Maria and Thomas who had travelled to watch him play in Ireland this week.

Leading final round scores (Britain and Ireland unless stated):

277 — Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 64, 74, 68, 71; Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 66, 69, 71, 71; Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 70, 71, 68, 68 (Campbell won on first hole of a play-off).

279 — David Lynn 69, 65, 72, 73; Greg Owen 68, 71, 68, 72.

280 — Sven Struver (Germany) 71, 71, 69, 69.

282 — Robert Karlsson 69, 69, 69, 75; Peter Lonard (Australia) 71, 68, 69, 74.

283 — Raymond Russell 71, 73, 68, 71; Greg Turner (New Zealand) 71, 71, 69, 72.

284 — John Bickerton 71, 72, 72, 69; Paul Broadhurst 67, 74, 71, 72; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 73, 68, 71, 72; Gary Murphy 74, 68, 70, 72; Peter O’Malley (Australia) 70, 69, 72, 73; Lee Westwood 70, 72, 69, 73.

285 — Gary Emerson 68, 71, 72, 74; Simon Khan 68, 73, 70, 74; Mark Pilkington 76, 67, 69, 73; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 71, 71, 70, 73; Shaun P. Webster 72, 71, 67, 75.

JACOBSEN TRIUMPHS