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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:37 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009

Sony Open: Campbell makes his flight, misses the tournament

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer

Chad Campbell flew all the way to Hawaii and only got to play one round of golf.

And it wasn't even at Waialae.

In a fluke start to his season, Campbell forgot to sign up for the Sony Open and didn't realize it until he had made the eight-hour flight from Dallas to Honolulu.

"Not good," Campbell said Thursday from his home outside Dallas. "I had actually thought about it on the plane, that there was a chance I didn't commit. I found out when I got off the plane."

Campbell landed Saturday afternoon. The deadline to enter a tournament is Friday afternoon.

Worse than the trans-Pacific flight was missing a tournament where Campbell was the runner-up three years ago. He is at No. 64 in the world ranking, and was hopeful of a good start to the year to secure a spot in the Accenture Match Play Championship late next month.

"It's one of my top five favorite tournaments we play all year," Campbell said. "It's one of my favorite golf courses. That's what (stinks) more than anything."

As for the eight-hour flight?

"It would have been nice had it been a little bit closer," he said.

He played golf at a different course with his caddie and friends Sunday morning, then caught a redeye flight back to Dallas.

Campbell said it was the first time in his career he forgot to sign up for a tournament. He usually handles that himself, with reminders from his agent and caddie.

"This one just slipped through the cracks," he said. "It takes a lot to go wrong for it to happen. I'm more mad at myself than anything."

Campbell was to leave Friday for California and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, which he won in 2006.

Asked if he had remembered to enter, Campbell laughed.

"I wish someone had reminded me last week," he said.