Campbell’s comeback marred by injury snag
ROBERT VAN ROYEN Michael Campbell’s return to the European Tour has been set back by the same injury which plagued him before he retired in 2015.
The 49-year-old former US Open champion was scheduled to play in the 99th New Zealand Open in Arrowtown, starting today, before utilising his lifetime European Tour card to compete in about 10 tournaments this year.
Campbell planned to use the tournaments to prepare for entry to the Senior Tour next year, but a peroneal tendon tear in his left-ankle means he won’t compete in Arrowtown, and just when he’s fit to return to professional golf is still up the in the air.
He re-aggravated the old injury while training in January, and his physiotherapist will re-evaluate his recovery time when he returns home to Spain next week.
His return is expected to be about another two months away, unless he doesn’t recover and surgery sidelines him for a further six months.
‘‘Walking is absolutely fine, it’s just when I swing a golf club, it’s quite bizarre really,’’ Campbell said. ‘‘It feels OK. I was practising a few golf swings in my bedroom last night and it was not too bad.’’
The former NZ Open winner (2000), who runs a couple of golf academies in Spain, pointed to Tiger Woods’ recent return from injury as motivation, and the form of a few close friends still playing.
‘‘I see all my friends around my age still competing well, like Phil Mickelson, he’s still up there . . . Jim Furyk, Ernie Els. So it’s very encouraging for me because I know I’ve got the ability to go out there and play well.
‘‘If I just put my head down and work hard on my game and keep on doing what I’m doing, maybe [I can get back to my best]. One thing that’s great with golf, there’s no limitation to age. The longevity is fantastic.’’
Thirteen years after winning the US Open at Pinehurst, Campbell said he’d shot some ‘‘good scores’’ before his ankle flared up, and was itching to again get the competitive juices flowing.
Since retiring, in addition to keep- ing busy with the 23 students at his two academies, Campbell has spent extra time with sons Thomas, 20, and Jordan, 18.
‘‘Now it’s time to really focus on the second chance in my career by hopefully joining the Senior Tour next year,’’ he said.
While unable to play in Arrowtown, Campbell at least got the chance to catch up with South Korean friend KJ Choi, 47, who has earned about $50 million in prizemoney and remains in the top-25 on the PGA’s all- What: The 99th New Zealand Open Where: The Hills and Millbrook, Arrowtown When: Today-Sunday. Format: Pro-am. Players alternate between the The Hills and Millbrook for their opening two rounds, before Millbrook hosts the top60 plus ties for the final two rounds at the weekend. Purse: $1.2 million Five Kiwis to watch: 1. Aucklander Michael Hendry ended a 14-year drought to become the first Kiwi to win the tournament in 14 years last year, and is 16th on the Japan Order of Merit with NZ $670,000. 2. A year after finishing in a share of sixth, Ryan Fox flagged a couple of European Tour events to return home and have another shot at the Brodie Breeze trophy. 3. Fresh off winning the NZPGA Championship in Palmerston North last weekend, Ben Campbell, who came up short in the three-way playoff last year, goes into the tournament in fine form. 4. Steve Alker isn’t coming off his best year, but the four-times PGA Tour of Australasia winner shouldn’t be discounted. 5. With almost NZ $7 million in prizemoney, Tim Wilkinson is competing in the New Zealand Open for the first time in more than a decade. Three international players to watch: 1. More than $50 million in prizemoney and 20 professional wins make South Korean KJ Choi arguably the highest profile golfer to compete in the NZ Open since Tiger Woods (2002). 2. Aussie Scott Hend is playing some of the best golf of his career, having topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2016 and finishing fourth last year. He also won twice on the European Tour last year. 3. Former winner Brad Kennedy (2011) is a consistent performer in the NZ Open, and was on track to win last year’s tournament until he found the drink during the playoff with Hendry and Campbell. time money list. Choi is competing in the tournament for the first time.
Campbell and other players, including defending champion Michael Hendry, took time out yesterday for a karting challenge with motorsport’s Hayden Paddon.