Peter Williams: I'd put my shirt on Campbell winning more titles

In one respect it was a tough old Christmas. In another it couldn't have been better.

I can usually rely on someone among wife, children or aged parents to accede to my not so secret desire to top up the dwindling stock of new Titleists.

I don't know whether it's the price or just the fact that golf balls are in many peoples' minds a dreadfully boring Christmas present, but there were none under our tree last Sunday. However, thanks to the deeds of our favourite golfing son, there was a magnificent surprise at the bottom of our present pile, almost hidden by the lowest of the scruffy branches.

(By the way, real pinus radiata Christmas trees are to be recommended. Every one in a home is one less on a golf course.)

The mystery package with "To Peter from Santa" on the tag was soft and pliable.

It was obviously some sort of garment. Could it be golfing attire? A new shirt perhaps? Surely not the hottest fashion item to grace our courses in years?

I unwrapped feverishly. There they were. Not one, but two Cambo shirts. First out came a white one with the Maori motif on the sleeves and across the back. Just like the one he wore that day back in June at Pinehurst, except that now to match his logo on the left breast, there's some nifty needlework on the right breast side too. A stylised autograph with the words: "Michael Campbell, US Open Champion, Pinehurst No. 2 2005" is embroidered neatly underneath.

Only one thing kept me from rushing to quickly try it on for size - its companion in the package.

Now this one has to be regarded as slightly controversial. There's no doubt it's a golf shirt because it has Cambo's logo on the left breast and on the crew band at the neck. But it doesn't have a buttoned collar.

Not that long ago such attire would mean entry refused at all the world's better golf courses and at most in this country. Then a fellow called Tiger started wearing this up-market T-shirt design about 2000 and before you could say "another major championship" the style was de rigeur everywhere.

So now Cambo's range includes this model. I think it's neat but the only difference between one of these and a T-shirt you'd wear at the gym is about 2cm in the width of the band around the neck. By such miniscule numbers are golf's over-zealous dress standards set.

Personal observation around the place I'm holidaying in suggests Cambo shirts have been a big hit under Christmas trees this festive season. Their popularity is nothing more than a natural consequence of the greatest moment in New Zealand sport last year. The white model with the motif on the sleeves on the arms and back is surely destined for collector's item status.

One has to be of a relatively mature age to remember a golfing shirt worn with as much enthusiasm as this brand. But around three decades or more ago, we couldn't get enough of the Bob Charles shirts with the world famous under-arm "action gusset".

Their lustre wore off as Sir Bob's great career wound down. But he still has a market value because now he extols the virtues of deer velvet.

But Cambo's due a lot more tournament wins and shirt sales - and there'll be a lot more Christmases - before he's selling us a superannuitants' remedy.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY