‘Burnt out’ Campbell reignites flame
Major champion Michael Campbell is coming out of a self-imposed professional golfing exile to be a surprise starter for the 100th New Zealand Open in February.
Campbell, who turns 50 in March, has not fully played on tour since 2013, after he retired, burnt out by golf and life in general.
Once among the world’s elite players, the major winner is signed on to play in the centenary edition of the event which runs from February 28 to March 3 at Millbrook and The Hills in Arrowtown.
‘‘It’s been three years since I retired and I now plan to join the Senior Tour. I can’t miss the New Zealand Open, it’s a true celebration of a great achievement in golf. To come back and play in the centenary is very special.
‘‘I really don’t know what to expect because I haven’t competed for such a long time. I want to be there to support the New Zealand Open, it’s going to be a lot of fun.’’
It’s been so long, 2005 US Open champion Campbell can only guess at when and where he opted to retire. Abu Dhabi, 2015, it was, one year after his previous tournament outing.
‘‘I was burnt out a little bit, plus I was going through an injury and a divorce, so there was a lot of stuff going through my mind and I just thought ‘OK, it’s time to have a break’, which I’ve really enjoyed and now it’s time to get back on the road again and just enjoy what’s ahead of me.
‘‘Behind the scenes [professional golf’s] a tough career. It’s very selfish, you’re always away from your family, I was always on the road, different hotels, on an aeroplane, it’s very, very hard.
‘‘People don’t see that, all they see is us winning tournaments and all this money, and playing wonderful golf courses.
‘‘The first emotion that came to mind after I won the US Open – I thought to myself ‘wow, it took me a long time to do this’. Because I’ve worked so hard on it.’’
For two years Campbell didn’t miss golf, spending time catching up with his sons Thomas and Jordan – both now in their early 20s – after a long spells on the road away earlier in their lives.
‘‘I really enjoyed being at home, reconnecting with my boys, because I was pretty much an absent father when I was playing – I was away for 35 weeks of the year.’’
So he cooked for them, watched them play sport, looked after them. And he had no interest in watching golf on TV.
He set up two golfing academies in Spain – ‘‘it’s been my rush’’ – working with young up-and-comers.
Gradually his sons grew up, and he started watching more golf on TV. Gradually the desire returned. He played a few fun games with friends, but nothing serious and without the same intensity.
The New Zealand Open is his start line in an intended stint on the Seniors Tour, where the likes of German Bernhard Langer, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Scot Colin Montgomerie now star.
Spurred somewhat by the 2018 comeback of Tiger Woods, who he beat to win the 2005 US Open, the swashbuckling Titahi Bay golfer is back, body permitting (a knee is giving him grief).
‘‘[Tiger winning] definitely inspired me, but I always had plans coming back for the Seniors Tour. You’ve got to understand I’m going to play a very short schedule – 15 events a year, and that’s it.
‘‘I’m not going to play the 35 events thing – I’ve done that for 20 years, I will be 50 soon.
‘‘I want to enjoy life and have a more balanced life. Yes, I want to play well and go out there and win, of course I want to do that, but it’s not high on my priority list – winning is a bonus.’’
He will fly to New Zealand for his 50th birthday, to celebrate with his parents in Titahi Bay in Wellington.
Campbell finds it hard to believe he is 50, and even harder to accept it is 19 years since he won his only NZ Open.
‘‘It’s amazing, I can remember it as if it was yesterday. Obviously the biggest win is the US Open, but the second one ranking wise – I won 16, 17 times in the world – and emotionally is the New Zealand Open.
‘‘To win your national open in front of your home crowd and family is very . . . it’s wonderful.’’
Campbell had a 22-year professional career, highlighted by his US Open victory and a tie for third at the 1995 British Open, winning almost NZ$24 million in prizemoney.
Top-ranked Kiwi player Ryan Fox, will also contest the New Zealand Open, along with 2017 champion Michael Hendry and fellow Kiwis Steve Alker and Tim Wilkinson, who both recently gained partial cards for next year’s Web.com Tour in the US.
‘‘Behind the scenes [professional golf’s] a tough career. It’s very selfish.’’ Michael Campbell