Michael Campbell

Michael Shane Campbell CNZM (born 23 February 1969) is a New Zealand professional golfer who is best known for having won the 2005 U.S. Open and, at the time, the richest prize in golf, the £1,000,000 HSBC World Match Play Championship, in the same year.[2] He played on the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Michael Campbell
Personal information
Full nameMichael Shane Campbell
Born (1969-02-23) 23 February 1969
Hāwera, New Zealand
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality New Zealand
ResidenceWellington, New Zealand
Sydney, Australia
Children2
Career
Turned professional1993
Former tour(s)PGA Tour of Australasia
European Tour
Professional wins15
Highest ranking12 (27 May 2001)[1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
European Tour8
Asian Tour1
PGA Tour of Australasia7
Challenge Tour3
Best results in major championships
(wins: 1)
Masters TournamentCUT: 1996, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
PGA ChampionshipT6: 2005
U.S. OpenWon: 2005
The Open ChampionshipT3: 1995
Achievements and awards
PGA Tour of Australasia
Rookie of the Year
1993
PGA Tour of Australasia
Order of Merit
1999–2000
PGA Tour of Australasia
Player of the Year
1999–2000
European Tour
Golfer of the Year
2005

Early life, amateur career

Campbell was born in Hāwera, Taranaki. Ethnically, he is predominantly Māori, from the Ngāti Ruanui (father's side) and Ngā Rauru (mother's side) iwi.[3] He also has some Scottish ancestry, being a great-great-great-grandson of John Logan Campbell, a Scottish emigrant to New Zealand. As a young child, he lived near his mother's Wai-o-Turi marae at Whenuakura, just south of Patea, and also spent much of his time with whanau at his father's Taiporohenui marae, near Hāwera.

Like many young New Zealand boys, Campbell dreamed of playing for the All Blacks, and began playing rugby union, but his mother vetoed his participation. While he was talented at several other sports, such as softball, squash and table tennis, his passion turned out to be golf.

Aged seven, he began playing golf on the Patea golf course which had the greens fenced to keep sheep off them. He was introduced to the game by an uncle, Roger Rei, but was also undoubtedly influenced by his father, Tom Campbell, who was a single-figure handicapper. The family moved south to Titahi Bay and Campbell developed his skills in junior ranks at Paraparaumu. He attended school at Mana College but left without any qualifications.

From 1988, Campbell represented New Zealand in various international amateur competitions, including the team victory at the 1992 Eisenhower Trophy, before turning professional in 1993.

Professional career

In 1995, in his first full season on the European Tour, he held a two-shot lead after the third round of The Open Championship, but faded after a final-round 76. He nonetheless remained in contention until the final hole, missing a playoff with Costantino Rocca and John Daly (eventually won by Daly) by one stroke.

Campbell eventually established himself as a solid tour performer, finishing fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit (money list) in 2000, and again finishing in the top ten of the Order of Merit in 2002. He won the PGA Tour of Australasia's Order of Merit during the 1999/2000 season.

Michael Campbell holding U.S. Open Trophy
Michael Campbell walks to the 12th tee at the 2007 KLM Open.

Campbell failed to make the cut in his first five 2005 tournaments. He made a quick turnaround and missed only one cut in the next 16 tournaments. He finished in the top six of both the Open Championship and PGA Championship, and recorded top-five placings in three other tournaments.

2005 U.S. Open

Campbell qualified for the U.S. Open through sectional qualifying. The USGA introduced European qualifying for the first time, which took place at Walton Heath. He had to sink a 6-foot birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to secure his place in the U.S. Open.

In the tournament itself, Campbell ended the third round four strokes behind Retief Goosen, the event's defending champion. On the final day, Goosen ballooned to an 81. Campbell shot 69 (1 under par) for the final round and was the only golfer in the last two pairings of the day to break 80. Campbell's main competition turned out to be Tiger Woods,[4] who at one point closed to within one shot of Campbell.

In the end, Woods was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes, and Campbell won his first major by two shots, carding an even par of 280. With his win, he became only the second New Zealander to win a major (after Bob Charles), and also the first winner of the U.S. Open since Steve Jones in 1996 who had entered the event via sectional qualifying.

Two months later, in August, Campbell finished in a tie for 6th in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, won by Phil Mickelson.

World Match Play champion

In September 2005, Campbell won the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.[2] He defeated Australian Geoff Ogilvy (1-up) before being taken to the 37th hole by another Australian, Steve Elkington, in the quarter-final.

In the semi-final he faced Retief Goosen who the previous day had recorded a 12 and 11 win over Mark Hensby. Campbell defeated Goosen 7 and 6 and the next day beat Irishman Paul McGinley 2 and 1 in the final to take the championship and win the £1,000,000 richest prize in golf.[5] He became only the fourth golfer to win the U.S. Open and the World Match Play titles in the same year, joining Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els, and the win moved him to the top of the European Order of Merit, ahead of Goosen. He finished the year ranked second on the Order of Merit.

Later career, retirement and comeback

Campbell had no top-10 finishes on the European Tour between 2009 and September 2012, although his U.S. Open win meant he retained his playing rights. In October 2012, he finished third in the Portugal Masters, and in December he finished 8th in the Hong Kong Open (both European tour events). He retired from golf in 2015, citing an ankle injury and personal issues.[6]

In December 2017, Campbell revealed in an interview with bunkered magazine that he was planning to make a European Tour comeback in 2018 with a view to playing on the Staysure Tour and PGA Tour Champions when he turns 50 in February 2019.[7] He is automatically qualified for the U.S. Senior Open from 2019 until 2028 as all former U.S. Open champions are exempt from qualifying for ten years.[8] He was unable to play in the New Zealand Open as planned, having aggravated an old injury to a tendon in his left ankle during training.[6]

Awards, honours and private life

Campbell wife Julie and his sons Thomas and Jordan primarily reside in Sydney, Australia, which is Julie's hometown. In 2012 he moved first to Switzerland and then to southern Spain, where he opened a golf academy and has been the brand ambassador for a golf resort.[2]

In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Campbell was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to golf.[9]

On 29 October 2005, Campbell was awarded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour for his U.S. Open win. In the 2006 New Year Honours, Campbell was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to golf.[10]

Among his many New Zealand television appearances in 2008 was a cameo role in an episode of sports skit comedy show Pulp Sport.

Campbell is a co-founder of the Project Litefoot Trust, which is helping New Zealand community sports clubs reduce their environmental impact, while saving money for sport.[11]

Amateur wins

Professional wins (15)

PGA Tour wins (1)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other PGA Tour (0)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 19 Jun 2005 U.S. Open E (71-69-71-69=280) 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods

European Tour wins (8)

Legend
Major championships (1)
Other European Tour (7)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 14 Nov 1999
(2000 season)
Johnnie Walker Classic1,2 −12 (66-71-69-70=276) 1 stroke Australia Geoff Ogilvy
2 30 Jan 2000 Heineken Classic1 −20 (68-69-65-66=268) 6 strokes Denmark Thomas Bjørn
3 1 Oct 2000 Linde German Masters −19 (68-64-65=197)* 1 stroke Argentina José Cóceres
4 4 Feb 2001 Heineken Classic1 (2) −18 (69-70-67-64=270) 5 strokes New Zealand David Smail
5 7 Jul 2002 Smurfit European Open −6 (68-71-70-73=282) 1 stroke Wales Bradley Dredge, South Africa Retief Goosen,
Republic of Ireland Pádraig Harrington, Scotland Paul Lawrie
6 27 Jul 2003 Nissan Irish Open −11 (66-69-71-71=277) Playoff Denmark Thomas Bjørn, Sweden Peter Hedblom
7 19 Jun 2005 U.S. Open E (71-69-71-69=280) 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods
8 18 Sep 2005 HSBC World Match Play Championship 2 and 1 Republic of Ireland Paul McGinley

*Note: The 2000 Linde German Masters was shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
2Co-sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour

European Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2003 Nissan Irish Open Denmark Thomas Bjørn, Sweden Peter Hedblom Won with birdie on first extra hole

Asian PGA Tour wins (1)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 14 Nov 1999 Johnnie Walker Classic1 −12 (66-71-69-70=276) 1 stroke Australia Geoff Ogilvy

1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (7)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1 28 Feb 1993 Canon Challenge −16 (70-65-65-72=272) 3 strokes Australia Steven Conran
2 5 Nov 1995 Alfred Dunhill Masters −21 (69-65-68-65=267) 5 strokes Wales Mark Mouland, Australia Craig Parry
3 14 Nov 1999 Johnnie Walker Classic1,2 −12 (66-71-69-70=276) 1 stroke Australia Geoff Ogilvy
4 23 Jan 2000 Crown Lager New Zealand Open −15 (69-67-69-64=269) Playoff New Zealand Craig Perks
5 30 Jan 2000 Heineken Classic1 −20 (68-69-65-66=268) 6 strokes Denmark Thomas Bjørn
6 13 Feb 2000 Ericsson Masters −10 (75-67-67-73=282) 4 strokes Australia Brett Rumford
7 4 Feb 2001 Heineken Classic1 (2) −18 (69-70-67-64=270) 5 strokes New Zealand David Smail

1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour
2Co-sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour

PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2000 Crown Lager New Zealand Open New Zealand Craig Perks Won with eagle on second extra hole

Challenge Tour wins (3)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runner-up
1 26 Jun 1994 Memorial Olivier Barras −10 (67-67-72=206) 3 strokes Northern Ireland Raymond Burns
2 3 Jul 1994 Bank Austria Open −12 (71-68-68-69=276) 2 strokes England Stuart Cage
3 14 Aug 1994 Audi Quattro Trophy −21 (67-67-66-67=267) 2 strokes Northern Ireland Raymond Burns

Playoff record

Other playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2001 WGC-World Cup
(with New Zealand David Smail)
 DenmarkThomas Bjørn and Søren Hansen,
 South AfricaRetief Goosen and Ernie Els,
 United StatesDavid Duval and Tiger Woods
South Africa won with par on second extra hole
New Zealand and United States eliminated by birdie on first hole

Major championships

Wins (1)

YearChampionship54 holesWinning scoreMarginRunner-up
2005U.S. Open4 shot deficitE (71-69-71-69=280)2 strokesUnited States Tiger Woods

Results timeline

Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Masters Tournament CUT
U.S. Open T32
The Open Championship CUT T3 DQ T66 CUT
PGA Championship T17 CUT
Tournament 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Masters Tournament CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT
U.S. Open T12 CUT CUT CUT CUT 1 CUT T58 CUT CUT
The Open Championship CUT T23 CUT T53 T20 T5 T35 T57 T51 WD
PGA Championship CUT CUT T23 T69 T49 T6 CUT CUT T42 CUT
Tournament 2010 2011 2012 2013
Masters Tournament CUT
U.S. Open CUT CUT CUT CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship
  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

DQ = Disqualified
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament000000100
U.S. Open100112154
The Open Championship001224159
PGA Championship000013126
Totals1013495219
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (2004 Open Championship – 2005 PGA)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 3 (2005 U.S. Open – 2005 PGA)

Results in The Players Championship

Tournament 1996199719981999
The Players Championship T71
Tournament 2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
The Players Championship T15 T11 DQ CUT CUT CUT WD
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
WD = withdrew
DQ = disqualified
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament20002001200220032004200520062007
Match Play R64 R16 R64 R64 R64 R64 R64
Championship 9 NT1 T9 T68 66 T46 T22 71
Invitational T15 T31 T11 T71 68 17 T46

1Cancelled due to 9/11

  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

See also

References

  1. "Week 21 2001 Ending 27 May 2001" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. Garrity, John (15 May 2014). "Winning the 2005 U.S. Open made Michael Campbell New Zealand's greatest sportsman until the weight of superstardom closed in". Golf.com.
  3. Smith, Tony (12 February 2021). "Māori Sports Awards: Lisa Carrington judged most influential Māori sports star since 1991". Stuff. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. DeCock, Luke (30 March 2015) [10 June 2014]. "2005 US Open golf champ Michael Campbell remains a mystery". The News & Observer.
  5. "Campbell takes Wentworth victory". BBC Sport. 18 September 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  6. van Royen, Robert (28 February 2018). "Former US Open winner Michael Campbell's comeback hits a snag". Stuff.
  7. Inglis, Martin (28 December 2017). "Michael Campbell to make European Tour return in 2018". bunkered.
  8. "Campbell announces retirement from golf". PGA European Tour. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  9. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 4 June 2001. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  10. "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  11. "Michael Campbell". projectlitefoot.org. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
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