Open champ arrives in Auckland for Aunt Niki's roast lamb

A haka to greet him at Auckland airport left Michael Campbell with "goosebumps on my goosebumps". Picture / Richard Robinson

Golfing champion Michael Campbell is still dining out on his big win.

Midway through yesterday's media conference at Auckland Airport, he talks about the cases of Dom Perignon being left on his doorstep.

His cousin, Arthur Pokere, says it's just as well Campbell's Aunty Niki, planning a roast dinner for the US Open champ, isn't there to hear that.

There had been some worry Campbell's elevation to the annals of golfing history six weeks before might have turned him into a gourmet, he says. But roast lamb is on the home-coming menu - "Michael's favourite".

Campbell sets the record straight.

The gifts of champagne and "incredible offers from all round the world" since his Open win have not gone to his head.

"Aunty Niki's home cooking is fantastic.

"I love my family. I had the option of staying in a nice hotel here, but we prefer to stay at Aunty Niki and Uncle Bruce's house.

"I love home cooking. I like the simple things."

He carries with him the cup, a gargantuan thing "with a few dents in it now", that proves his champion status.

Since he got his hands on it, it has served glass after glass of aforementioned champagne, has been in his bed once, and has been to all manner of parties.

Campbell is back in New Zealand for 10 days.

He says he was exhausted in the tournaments he played after the US Open (he tied for fifth in the British Open this month).

"I said I need two weeks to go home and share this with the people there.

"I knew if I came back home to do this, it would close one chapter of the book and open up another."

About 200 people were at the airport and let loose with applause when the famous face appeared.

His children Thomas and Jordan and wife Julie stood beside him as his fellow passengers, looking slightly bemused at emerging mid-haka, were shepherded away.

"Is he a sporting champion?" one asked.

"Yes. Golf. He won the US Open."

"Oh," and she gave a spontaneous flutter of clapping and sought his autograph.

The welcome was enough to "give me goosebumps on my goosebumps", Campbell later says.

He is told of the rapturous welcome awaiting him in Wellington today and tomorrow and asked about plans to name a road "Michael Campbell Drive".

He is fine with this "as long as it goes left to right. It's a slice. I don't drive right to left. I slice all the time."