Campbell plans to join the senior tour
Michael Campbell will return to golf ’s European Tour next season as he prepares to join the senior circuit in 2019.
Campbell celebrates his 49th birthday on February 23 and is eligible for the seniors when he turns 50.
The 2005 United States Open champion has told bunkered.co.uk the decision came after a tough professional and personal time in his life.
“It’ll be good to get the juices flowing and see if I like it or not.
“My friends and family have been getting excited about it but who knows, I might hate it and all the travelling again. I really don’t know.”
Campbell announced his retirement from the sport in May 2015.
He had one top-10 on the European Tour from 2009-13 and, after missing the cut at the 2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC golf championship the following January, didn’t play for the rest of the year.
In May 2014, he announced his separation from Julie, his wife of 18 years.
His most recent start, at the 2015 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, ended in withdrawal after nine holes due to personal reasons.
Campbell said retirement had allowed him to “reconnect” with sons Thomas, 20, and Jordan, 18.
He also used the time to establish two golf academies in Marbella, Spain, where he now lives with his fiancee, Gunnel.
“After 20 to 25 years on tour, it got a little bit stale,” Campbell said.
“I was a very absent father because I was so busy in my own little world.”
Campbell has played minimal golf since retiring, preferring to cook instead.
“I’ve lived a normal life. All the apps on my phone are about cooking. When I was playing golf, I could barely make a poached egg. Now I’m a bit of a master chef.”