Campbell: I can handle Open pressure
Michael Campbell returned to the scene of his major near-miss 10 years ago and warned his rivals he would not make the same mistake twice.
The New Zealander, who last month won the US Open at Pinehurst, believes he has grown in stature as a player and that claiming his first major was the completion of a long journey which began at St Andrews 10 years ago.
Leading going into the final round, Campbell eventually finished joint third as John Daly won a play-off against Costantino Rocca, and the Kiwi admitted that at the time he had no way of coping with the pressure.
Since then he has undergone a terrible spell when he was beset by injury and his game deserted him, forcing him to the brink of quitting the sport.
However, winning the US Open after coming through qualifying in England at the last minute has galvanised Campbell into a more steely character.
Not only did he win in America as a full-time European Tour member, but he also held off the final-round challenge of world number one Tiger Woods, chasing his second major of the year.
That has given Campbell renewed confidence and he arrived at the home of golf relishing the opportunity to put things right a decade on.
“When you have a sniff of a major it is always in the back of your mind but now I have been labelled a major winner,” he explained.
“Back then I was a player that couldn’t win a major. I stood on the first tee [in the final round] and I had no idea what I was doing – I nearly missed the fairway on the first hole and it is 100 yards wide.
“I had no way of calming my nerves down and was not ready to win because I was too young. But I had self-belief and just hung in there and was patient.
“This week I now know I can win majors. I proved to a lot of people I am a serious player. They respect me a lot more but, more importantly, I proved to myself I can do it.
“If I get to the same situation I can probably handle it well.”
Ironically, Campbell credited Woods with starting the process which helped make him a better player.
“Tiger made me work harder, go to the gym for longer, work out harder, practice longer on the range,” said Campbell.
“He has made a huge impact on my career in the last six years or so. Tiger came along and raised the bar.
“I think everyone has raised their game and now I think it is good for the game to see different guys winning tournaments now.
“Over the last few years we have had a few surprise winners in major tournaments, which is great for golf.”
It is a different course from 10 years ago which faces him now, but Campbell was complimentary about the lengthening which has taken place, with four new tee boxes adding 164 yards.
“The changes have made a big difference and I think they are good changes,” he said.
“What they (the R&A) have done over the years have definitely made the course more of a championship golf course.”
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