A tiger-taming Maori

Reflecting on the 2005 US Open as well as the pivotal role of sporting heroes on sparking youth engagement in golf, with Michael Campbell.

When Michael Campbell qualified for the US Open in 2005, he had zero PGA Tour wins. He was number 80 in the world.

Nobody expected a Top-10 finish except for him, who marked his ball with a “997” throughout the tournament. The reason was a promise he made to himself: if he managed to finish in the top 10, he would buy a second-hand Porsche 997 that he’d found on sale for £25,000.

As Sunday dawned and he stood up there in the top 5, his goal shifted from merely finishing in the top 10 to winning the tournament - which he did, defeating Tiger Woods in his prime. Along with the victory, the reward changed: the second-hand 997 was upgraded to a brand-new Carrera 911 4S.

When we met with the New Zealander at Costa Navarino, shortly before his tee time for Legends Tour, the icebreaker was whether he still owned that car. The car was apparently sold down the road but the cool story remained. As did the aftermath of his success to young kids in his rugby-centered homeland and well beyond it.