us open story bruce young The Spoils of Victory GOLF Magazine’s f it had been possible for not only a steel grey Porsche 997 but Bruce Young caught up Michael Campbell to see his the US Open trophy as well. Iball as he stood over his second Just eight days after his historic with Michael Campbell shot from the left hand rough on win at Pinehurst, Campbell was shortly after his US Open the 72nd hole of the US Open, beginning to put the events of June he would have seen the numbers 19 behind him and look to the future. win in June, to get the 997 appearing through the gnarly “I’m trying to close that door, if inside word from golf ’s Bermuda rough. that’s possible, and move on from newest major champion. Why 997? Two months earlier here,” he said. Campbell had made a promise to Closing the door on the US himself that when he next had a Open is going to be no easy task, tournament finish that would justify but what Campbell’s hinting the purchase of a new Porsche 997 at is his desire to look forward. Carerra, he would buy it. His almost unbelievable win at “I guess I could have considered Pinehurst will forever be etched into buying it there and then,” said his memory, but there are more big Campbell who first laid on eyes on tournaments to be won. the car at the BMW Championship In the days after his win in May, “but Jonathan [coach Campbell celebrated with about 100 Jonathan Yarwood] said I should of his closest friends and colleagues set a target that would provide an at a party that would have rocked added incentive to do well in the the foundations of his home in coming events. Brighton, England. “We had a “Initially that goal was to finish marquee, a DJ and a dance floor at top-three at the BMW and I the back of the house and a lot of finished eighth. Then it was the fun,” Campbell said. “That party same at the Celtic Manor Wales and perhaps even the purchase of Open but [I] could only manage the Porsche was a big part of that 15th and finally last week. I wrote process of putting that fabulous ‘997’ in big writing on the ball in week behind me and moving on.” each event to remind myself.” I asked Campbell when he Now Michael Campbell owns first allowed himself the luxury of ROSS KINNAIRD/GETTY IMAGES 90 GOLF MAGAZINE august 2005 www.sportzblitz.net www.sportzblitz.net august 2005 GOLF MAGAZINE 91 drive up to Walton Heath. If it had well, I’ll just go out and play my behind. But when Woods birdied too far beyond the flag. “I told him of been in the US I don’t think I own game and see what happens’. the 18th after a massive drive and he needed to think about 69 yards, as would have gone, especially with Perhaps starting out playing for Campbell bogeyed the 16th, the that was what it was to the bottom of just the nine spots available.” second took some pressure off early.” difference was just two. the gentle swale in the green before Campbell flew across to As he stood on the fifth tee, Standing on the 17th tee with heading uphill a little to the flag. Pinehurst the Sunday prior to the one-under for his round, Campbell the breeze helping, Campbell and Olin Browne’s ball was at the base championship and set up camp at soon realised he was tied for the lead caddy, Mike Waite, deliberated of the ridge and I said to Michael, the nearby Pine Needles. He played courtesy of a horror start by Goosen. over the club. “He had 196 yards to ‘Well that’s your target’.” Campbell 18 holes on Monday at Pinehurst, As Goosen’s name dropped further the flag but had so much adrenalin hit the perfect pitch to four feet and 18 on Tuesday and then just nine on down the leaderboard the tournament and was hitting the ball so well I although he missed his putt for par, Wednesday, after which he spent a lot developed into a duel between knew he could easily pitch it on the the cushion was sufficient to allow for of time chipping and putting. By the Campbell and Woods. When Woods front of the green with the 8-iron a two putt bogey. time Thursday came around he was birdied the 15th he was within two and it would kick up,” Waite said. As he fell into the embracing ready to go. of Campbell, who had made great up Campbell hit it to 20 feet of the flag arms of Waite, not much needed By Friday evening Campbell was and downs at the 11th and 13th to and when he holed a straight putt to be said. Both men knew the DONALD MIRALLE/GETTY IMAGES within two shots of the lead held keep his nose in front but then missed for birdie he was again three ahead. significance of what had just been by Olin Browne, Jason Gore and a good opportunity at the 14th to all After hitting his drive at the 18th accomplished and how it would thinking he had the US Open won? world’s greatest player coming at Retief Goosen. “One of the pleasing but end Woods’ charge. into the rough, he had the luxury of change their lives forever. “Probably playing the last hole,” me. That’s when you are going to aspects of my stats that week was Campbell found the left hand laying it up. “I want to leave myself Much has been made of the he replied. “Even standing on find out just how good you are. that everything worked well,” bunker with a 6-iron at the 15th but 80 yards,” he said to Waite. He rollercoaster career of Michael the 18th tee things were rushing A two shot lead after nine, then Campbell said. “No one stat stood made a great up and down. At the ended up with 79 according to his Campbell since the win. After a through my mind. I had a three Tiger makes birdie, I birdie and we out more than another throughout 16th he drove it left into the rough caddy, but keen not to see his boss fine amateur career that included shot lead after the birdie on the started to trade shots there for a the whole week.” Twenty four hours and had no option but to lay up. Just too aggressive with his third at this victory in the 1992 Australian 17th but I had a flash of the Jean while. On such a tough, demanding later as play concluded on Saturday, as he was doing this, Woods was crucial stage, he deducted a few yards Amateur Championship, Campbell Van de Velde thing then and again, golf course to shoot one-under it appeared the tournament was three putting the 17th to drop three to avoid the possibility of him going turned professional in early 1993. over my second, I actually had a par in that situation, under such Goosen’s to lose as he took a three thought about shanking it into the extreme pressure over the last nine shot advantage into the last round. crowd. Strange thoughts, but the holes, made me very, very proud.” “In my mind I was playing for mind is a powerful thing. I just Campbell had decided only three second,” said Campbell, who was forced myself to remain as calm as I weeks prior that he would commit four shots behind the leader. “Retief could and stay totally focused, but it to Pinehurst or at least attempt has been there before and was was hard. I may have appeared calm to qualify. “I had been entered playing so well that I thought, ‘Oh on the outside throughout the last for qualifying some time earlier Above & far right: round but I can tell you I was like a but given that I was beginning to The realisation of duck on water with those little legs play so well and my caddy Mike’s a dream come true; going flat out underneath.” insistence that I should play, it Right:Campbell Campbell thrived in the heat of became an easy decision for me. enjoys the spoils of victory with his the battle against Tiger Woods. “It I had to drive back from Celtic wife, Julie was hard work but I really enjoyed Manor (the venue of the Wales the challenge, the whole scenario. Open) to Brighton on the Sunday Here I am, the last nine holes of evening and then I got up at about a major championship with the 4.30 the following morning to Here I am, the last nine holes of a major championship with the world’s greatest player coming at me. That’s when you’re going to find out just how good you are—Campbell GETTY IMAGES ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES 92 GOLF MAGAZINE august 2005 www.sportzblitz.net www.sportzblitz.net august 2005 GOLF MAGAZINE 93 He played the mini-tours in the a non-European, that title went to the French Open at Le Golf National Leadbetter still oversees the work pressure and I am pleased that I was US in 1993 with some success and Jarmo Sandelin. in 1997 I had missed my ninth cut they are doing. able to win for him also.” again in 1994 before heading to “I think perhaps all that came a in my last 11 starts and when I got In March of this year Campbell Campbell also acquired a new play several Challenge Tour events little quickly,” Campbell reflected.