Golf: Taranaki-born caddy keeps his cool

Caddy Michael Waite is a master at staying in control on the golf course.

But yesterday, the Taranaki-born caddy had to remind himself to rein in his excitement to help direct Michael Campbell through one of the toughest games of his life.

"I kept thinking we could win this, but I kept saying to myself, 'don't get too far ahead because you still have a lot of holes to do'," Waite said a few hours after Campbell won.

Waite, who grew up in Stratford, said walking off the 18th green of the Pinehurst's No 2 course was "incredible".

"Leaving the 18th was unbelievable, the noise was phenomenal. It was incredible, amazing," said Waite, who has been caddying with Campbell for seven years.

Last night he was still coming to terms with the win after spending four days calculating Campbell's every shot and scrutinising the course.

"It's a dream come true, I mean this is why I caddy," he said.

"I doubt we will get any sleep tonight, put it that way."

Waite said the pair were halfway through the tournament when he realised Campbell was on track to finish second.

At that stage he didn't dare dream his boss would win.

"I honestly thought we were playing for second because [South Africa's] Retief Goosen is such a great player."

As the game progressed, so did the tension, said Waite, and then US Masters champion Tiger Woods began to close in.

"I was just trying to make sure we didn't hurry ... the thing is there's no point in me getting too uptight because I'm not hitting the ball, and if I'm uptight I'm no good for him [Campbell]," Waite said.

He described the course as an upside-down saucer, severe and extremely difficult to play.

However, Campbell kept his focus.

"I was watching Tiger Woods closely in the end, but I knew [we had won] after Michael's putt on the 17th," Waite said.

"Steve Williams [caddy to Woods and a fellow New Zealander], came over and congratulated me after we finished.

"I said I now know what it feels like because, obviously, after all the success he's had, he knows."

The victory would dramatically change the career of Campbell and himself, said Waite, who has been caddying for 18 years.

Next week Waite is on holiday before accompanying Campbell to the European Open, the Scottish Open, then the British Open.

Waite's New Plymouth mother, Wendy, said her son worked extremely hard, but shied away from the limelight.

"I remember him saying that sometimes you have to take control of the player because they are so keyed up."

She had been inundated with calls congratulating her son.

"It's just so exciting," she said.

- NZPA