New US Open champ provides a lesson in life- not just golf

As the ball fell over the lip and plunked against the bottom of the cup, Michael Campbell’s whole world changed.  Pulling his golf cap down over his face to cover his welling tears, he clasped his hands to the back of his head, taking a few moments; scarcely believing that his dream was finally realised.US Open Champion.  Only the second ever New Zealander to win a golf major – 42 years after the great left-hander Bob Charles lifted the British Open Crown.

It seemed fitting that Campbell, a 36-year old golfer who burst onto the scene 12 years previously as part of the first New Zealand team to win the Eisenhower Trophy (the world amateur team championships), then underlined his promise as a 26-year old talent leading the British Open with a round to play barely two years after turning pro (eventually finishing a meritorious third), finally broke through at the major level on the treacherous Pinehurst No. 2 course that broke the heart, spirit and game of most of the world’s best golfers over the weekend.

It seemed fitting that after years of largely unrealised promise and potential, he finally broke through when his country and the golfing world least expected it of him.

For his ten-year journey from young prodigy leading the very same major previously won by his country’s only golfing legend, to clasping the US Open’s silver trophy, staring at the names of legends past and present … Nicklaus … Palmer … Woods … Goosen … Hogan (Campbell’s own golfing hero growing up), mirrored the treacherous course he battled for victory.

Following his early promise, a wrist injury nearly ended his career. The tendon came away from the bone, rendering him unable to hold eating utensils, let alone a golf club, for months. He lost his Australasian and European Tour cards. He had nowhere to play. He seriously thought about giving the game away – selling golf balls and shelving his childhood dream.

But he recovered, having to completley rebuild his swing to compensate for the wrist injury, and when healthy and on form continued to show the promise of his youth. He won four times in late 1999 to early 2000, and regularly challenged the indomnitable (in Europe) Colin Montgomerie near the top of the European PGA Tour Rankings.

At one point in his career he was ranked in the Top 12 in the world. He went head to head with Tiger Woods and beat him in the Johnny Walker Classic.

The potential, the promise, the hope was all still there.  He was New Zealand’s best chance for another major champion. He won his home NZ Open. He saw other New Zealand golfers having some success worldwide.  

He had an elite game, but injuries, form slumps and confidence crises resulted in a roller-coaster career that had a “journeyman” feel to it. He even wondered himself if he could take the next step. He was settling for a “good but not great career”.

A varicose vein operation in 2003 to protect him from the dangers of DVT revealed he already had potentially deadly blood clots forming.

And then came this year’s US Open. He had missed the cut at the last four US Opens. He had to qualify in Europe to even get a ticket to the 2005 version.  He thought about not showing up. He was ranked 80th in the world, and was at 200-1 odds.  It was ten years since the promise shown at the British Open.  It was at a notoriously difficult course that had (and would) break the games of players ranked far higher, and in far better form leading in.

Four days and 280 shots later, Michael Campbell’s world and career had changed.  All his promise finally found its biggest moment to shine.  While Retief Goosen (known by other golfers as the best clutch player in the game) and others tumbled down the leaderboard on that fateful Sunday, Campbell held strong.

This proud Maori from New Zealand kept his composure, and the confidence that had deserted him previously held strong.  The infamous course that left others “bleeding” could not compare to the trials he had faced in his career over the past ten years.  He parred when others bogeyed.  He birdied when Woods charged. He stayed calm. He stayed strong. The regular toilet stops were the only sign of nerves.

And then, like a glorious ray of sunshine peering through the grey clouds of his career, he was there.  The US Open champion. A dream fulfilled.

And it was all the sweeter for the wait, and the journey he had taken to get there.

No longer sponsored by Nike clothing, his own brand of golfing shirts bears the brand “Kia Kaha”, Maori for “Inner Strenth”.

Patience. Persistence. Inner Strength.

In 1995 he had the golf game to win.

By 2005 the long road travelled and his life experiences on that journey had added the final ingredients.

It was not only a lesson in golf, but a lesson in life.