Golf: Upbeat Campbell drives for majors milestone

Golfer Michael Campbell. Photo / NZ Herald

Michael Campbell has never been much of a numbers man.

So it comes as no surprise that the New Zealand golfer is pleasantly surprised when informed next week's US Open marks a major milestone in his faltering career.

Campbell, 42, is due to step on to the first tee at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday for what will be his 50th appearance in one of the world's four golfing majors.

"Really? Wow ... well there you go, that's something new," said the 2005 US Open champion.

"I think what I have achieved in the golfing world is not too shabby. Any time you mention a major in there, it is definitely a career anyone in this world would be very, very happy with."

Only one New Zealander, the indefatigable Sir Bob Charles, has traded shots in majors company on more occasions than Campbell, with the now 75-year-old having made 69 majors appearances between 1958 and 2001.

Campbell continues his search to rediscover his game, one he lost from early 2006 onward as he tumbled from the dizzy heights of challenging for a world top-10 ranking to his modest, present-day ranking of 713th.

His appearance at Congressional owes nothing to form, and everything to the 10-year exemption for winning the 2005 Open at Pinehurst No 2, a crossroads in a career notable for lengthy form slumps.

In April he made three successive cuts on the European Tour for the first time in three years but he has failed to qualify for the weekend rounds in his last three events.

So, there is little to recommend Campbell heading to Congressional, where he knows the sternest of tests awaits him on a Blue course stretching to 6926m, the second-longest layout in the championship's history.

Campbell is sure to acknowledge the magnitude of the task facing him next week when simply making the cut would be a victory of sorts.

He has made only one cut at the US Open since holding Tiger Woods and company at bay six years ago, earning a modest edge after finishing in a tie for 58th place in 2007.

There is no place to hide at any of the majors, particularly the US Open," he said. "In a major you need all facets of your game operating at 110 per cent."

- NZPA