Golf: Cambo on course for NZ Open

Michael Campbell

The verbal stoush between Michael Campbell and New Zealand Golf will not escalate to the stage where the US Open champion bypasses the New Zealand Open.

That assurance was given yesterday by Campbell's management minder, David Rollo, of IMG (International Management Group).

Rollo said from Melbourne that Campbell's passion for New Zealand golf was well known and was probably behind his comments which were severely critical of NZG for not nailing down the sponsorship details of this year's tournament.

The $1.5 million New Zealand Open is to be staged in six months at Gulf Harbour and Campbell has grown increasingly uneasy that the financial arrangements for the championship, co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours, have yet to be signed off.

Rollo said there was no chance that Campbell's gripe with officials would lead him to withdraw his services from the New Zealand Open, a title he won in 2000.

"We are not going to get down that road, that's for sure. That is not going to transpire."

Campbell has always shown loyalty to the championship, fulfilling a promise he made to former NZG boss Grant Clements, who died in 1999.

Campbell had called for "heads to roll" at NZG, described the sponsorship situation as "ridiculous", and said NZG had approached him for financial support for the New Zealand Open.

NZG chief executive Larry Graham refused to comment directly about Campbell's assertions, although he denied any NZG approach to the player for financial assistance and said Campbell's comments contradicted what the New Zealand No 1 told him last week.

Graham said he would not comment further until he had spoken to Campbell.

Rollo admitted to being surprised at the strength of Campbell's criticism, saying his comments came out of left field.

"Michael is emotionally connected to New Zealand golf and he is passionate about it," Rollo said.

"There is a certain amount of frustration - and I'm sure that is shared by the people at New Zealand Golf - that a sponsor has not been found yet."

Rollo moved to play down Campbell's criticism of NZG, saying there were mitigating circumstances as his comments were made moments after he finished the Irish Open near Dublin, which was dragged into a fifth day because of poor weather.

"Sometimes in the heat of the moment a few things get said that maybe shouldn't get said.

"I have a feeling that after a war of attrition - that was the Irish Open for five days in exceptionally tough conditions - it was perhaps a wrong place, wrong time scenario."

There is a fear Campbell's disgruntlement with NZG may prove an unnecessary distraction as he builds up for his US Open title defence, beginning at Winged Foot near New York on June 16.

Rollo acknowledged that but remained confident Campbell, a seasoned professional, would not allow such a dispute to disrupt his preparation.

"But one of the things Michael has coped with terrifically well is the celebrity of being a major champion since the US Open last year.

"He is able to compartmentalise those things and just get back to focus on his golf."

- NZPA