Campbell encouraged by second-place finish
He was within one shot of the lead going to the final hole at Oak Hill.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Chad Campbell joined some exclusive company at the PGA Championship on Sunday. It wasn't the group he wanted.
Finishing second by two strokes to Shaun Micheel was Campbell's best finish by far in a major tournament, but it was also a case of what could have been.
The previous four PGA runners-up included Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. Impressive names, but that doesn't get yours on the Wanamaker Trophy.
"It is very difficult to get yourself in the position of the last group of a major championship, and I have to take the positive of the way I played coming down the stretch and use that the next time I get in this position, and hopefully that will be soon," he said.
Best round of tournament
The 29-year-old Campbell shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday, the best round of the tournament held at an unforgiving Oak Hill Country Club. That got him into a tie with Micheel at 4-under heading into the final round.
Micheel birdied the first hole, Campbell bogeyed it, and they were never tied again -- although Campbell was within a stroke heading to No. 18.
Micheel's miraculous second shot within 2 inches of the cup on that final hole sealed his win and Campbell's runner-up spot.
Campbell followed Micheel's great shot with one that left him about 20 feet away, and he two-putted for a 2-over 72 to finish second alone at 2-under 278, one stroke in front of Tim Clark.
Two-shot swings
Micheel birdied 14 while Campbell bogeyed the short par-4 for a two-shot swing that gave Micheel a three-stroke lead. They reversed roles on 15 when Campbell made a big breaking 30-foot birdie putt. Micheel then closed with birdies on 16 and 18 as Campbell parred out.
"Other than 14, I was pretty pleased with the way I played," Campbell said. "I just wish I could have gotten a couple of those putts to drop."
Campbell, a 13-time winner on the Hooters Tour, was voted by his peers in a Sports Illustrated poll a few weeks ago as the next star-in-the-making. He almost made them look good in a hurry.