Michael Campbell thinking of becoming British citizen

SOTOGRANDE, Spain - New Zealand Golf star Michael Campbell is thinking seriously about becoming a British citizen.

Campbell is a descendent of Sir Logan Campbell, a Scot and a resident of Brighton in southern England

The US Open champion said: "I've lived in England for 12 years and my great-great-great grandfather was Scottish, so come on Tony Blair, give me membership.

"If there was a chance of dual citizenship, I'd take it."

No non-European has ever taken advantage of dual citizenship before, although Zimbabwean Mark McNulty did try to switch nationalities to British after living in England for many years, and failed.

McNulty, now a senior, has, though, changed nationalities to Irish.

After presenting Campbell with honorary life membership of the European Tour, executive director George O'Grady did not rule out the chance of Campbell becoming a European Ryder Cup player.

Campbell has no intention of switching tours to America now he is a life member, which allows him to play as few events on the European Tour as he likes, with no mandatory 11 tournaments like non-life members.

"I've no immediate plans to play in America," said Campbell, playing this week at the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. "Why change a good thing?

"The European Tour has made a huge contribution to my success and I've proven the theory wrong that you win majors by playing on the US Tour."

- REUTERS