Variety suits Campbell
Former US Open champion Michael Campbell admits taking part in tournaments in the Far East can often hold more appeal than always playing on the PGA Tour.
The New Zealander is tomorrow set to take part in his second Asian event in a week when he joins the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen at the UBS Hong Kong Open in Fanling.
Last weekend, the 37-year-old finished joint third at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, behind World number one Tiger Woods and Korean Yang Yong-eun, who surprised all to win at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Campbell believes it is important to visit different countries to break the monotony of playing similar golf courses.
“I enjoy sampling different cultures,” he said.
“For me, the PGA Tour [in the US] is pretty much the same old stuff every week, same hotel room, same type of golf course, same speed of the greens, same bunkers, same rough. Monotony is not very nice in my life.
“I like a change. That’s why I spend six months in Australia and six months in England. My kids enjoy that and my wife enjoys that. We enjoy changes all the time."
Meanwhile, Chinese number one Liang Wenchong has confessed he one day plans to play on the USPGA Tour.
Liang, who last month won the Omega Championship in Beijing, will line up against Campbell, Montgomerie and Goosen in Fanling but admits he will wait a few more years before competing against them in the USA.
“In October, I was ranked number eight on the Japanese Order of Merit,” he said.
“If you are in the top 25 you can go straight to the second stage of the PGA Tour qualifying school, but I feel I should spend another year or two playing in Asia.
“Only when I think I’m really ready will I go to Q school.
“During the off-season, I’m going to keep practising and trying to improve my game. This year I played The International on the PGA Tour. It was a great experience and I hope to get more invites like that next year.”
