Michael Campbell's triumph at the 2005 US Open made him a superstar in his native New Zealand, but the defending champion is happy to fly under the radar at Winged Foot this week.
The spotlight at the second major golf championship of the year was firmly focused on Tiger Woods' return to competition for the first time since the death of his father, and Phil Mickelson's bid for his third straight major title.
But Campbell was quietly confident he could pull off a second straight surprise and become the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to win back-to-back US Open titles.
"Fantastic, bring it on," he said Tuesday, as practice rounds continued on the 7,264-yard, par-70 Winged Foot West course where competition begins on Thursday.
"Look at last year, no one gave me a chance to win, and I won," he said. "Once again, no one has given me a chance this year, apart from myself, which is the most important thing... I know I have a chance."
Like last year, Campbell arrives at the Open after modest results. His only top-five finish in five US tour events was a tie for fourth at the season-opening Mercedes Championships. In eight starts on the European tour he has two top-10 finishes.
"The whole year is repeating itself," he said, but noted he has one advantage now he didn't have at Pinehurst last year.
"I feel very comfortable with my surroundings now, being a major winner, and being defending champion is a label that I'm actually very, very comfortable with. So I'm very happy with that." Certainly Campbell has worked hard to live up to his status as a major title holder. "I think I have new responsibilities as a major winner, especially back home," he said.
He has met the challenge with a charitable Michael Campbell foundation, and has recently joined with fellow Kiwi golfer Greg Turner to launch the Winning Edge programme to give male and female golfers of all ages in New Zealand more opportunities to compete.
"I found out there's only three New Zealanders in the top 500 in the world, and to me that was a pretty scary stat," he said.
"I've decided to take hold of the situation and hopefully make a change, and in about another 15 years' time, when I'm sitting back in my rocking chair, I'll see 20 guys (from New Zealand) playing the US Open instead of two. That's my ultimate dream, once I retire from this game."
In the meantime, more major titles beckon.
"It has been a long time since Curtis Strange won back-to-back US Opens," Campbell said. "But I think it's still possible. I feel that my game has come together very nicely, so we'll see what's going to happen in.
Comments
Comments are closed.