Congratulations to Michael Campbell

[Tom_Doak]

Michael is the touring professional for Kauri Cliffs GC when he's not traveling the world.  He and Phil Tataurangi (who represents Cape Kidnappers) are two of the nicest people I've met, and I'm very pleased to see Michael play so well today to take the US Open trophy back to New Zealand.

Hopefully this will get a few more Kiwis out on the links.

[Steve Lapper]

I can second Tom's remarks about Michael Campbell's personality and manner. I've met him and played 6 holes with him years back in NZ (at Warakei). He is genuine, sincerely nice and a very pleasurable guy to be around. I'm thrilled to see a Kiwi (and especially a person of Maori-descent) win this prestigious title.

Go Blacks!

[PThomas]

he has a great swing and played great today

staring down a charging Tiger in the Open on that course in those conditions:  good for him

and he certainly seems like a nice guy

[James Bennett]

Congratulations Michael.  A proud NZ Kiwi.

I recall watching him in 1995 at St Andrews, before that last round, and his domination at Paraparumu Beach in the 2000 NZ Open (he was #14 in the world that year in 2000 - his head-to-head with Tiger in the match-play in 2000 was eagerly looked forward to, but Tiger just killed him that day).  He has always had an ability to hit controlled iron shots in firm and fast conditions.

He has displayed an ability to play courses that are presented firm and fast, and where the ground game is an option.  His performance at Pinehurst should not have been a surprise, although it was.  I look forward to seeing him play at St Andrews in a few weeks.

[Brian Phillips]

Superb. I have been hooked on Campbell since 1995 where he let himself down in the final round at TOC.

He has just ruined the odds I would have got at the bookies for The Open!!

Congratulations!!

Brian

[Philip Gawith]

Yes, what a pleasure - even for a South African!

 I have always loved watching that fluid swing. You also feel, a bit like Monty, that he is essentially an instinct player, and they are always more fun than the golf by numbers crowd.

I am kicking myself for not backing him - when I looked at the qualifying sheets at Walton Heath two weeks ago, he was first off at 7.30am and I nearly went to watch him. From then it was in the stars...

[Voytek Wilczak]

Michael Campbell is certainly someone I find easy to root for.

Soft-spoken, thoughtful, seems like a genuinely nice guy. I remember him well from the 1995 Open, when I also rooted for him.

His win must be a cause of great celebration to the Maoris, who, like Native Americans or the Aborigines, surely need such role models. I only speak on the basis of two movies I saw about the Maoris (one pretty bad - the Whale Rider or some such), but one really good - about the hopeless alcoholism and family abuse among the Maoris - I don't remember the title, but the film was absolutely heart-wrenching.

This US Open win by Campbell was to the Maoris what a win by Notah Begay at Shinnecock would be to Native Americans -one for the ages!

BTW - does anyone know what the Maori sign on Campbell's shirt meant?

[TEPaul]

I was all for Michael Campbell yesterday. What I just hope we don't hear on this website is something like "Who is he, he doesn't deserve to win the US Open (for whatever reason)?" Campbell simply showed yesterday that he did everything better than ALL the other great players in the world---he played a spectacular round of golf from a fairly good postion teeing off and that's all that matters. Who he was before the tourney or before teeing off on Sunday is secondary, to say the least.

Sure, there were a number of phenomenal collapses---but that's the way the US Open can be. Michael Campbell went out there and won the tournament with great golf, mentally, physically and some luck. That's what it generally takes, no matter who it is.

Other than some ridiculously narrow fairways, I think the USGA did a very good job this time.

[Voytek Wilczak]

Who he was before the tourney or before teeing off on Sunday is secondary, to say the least.

Not to the Maoris and the Kiwis, I bet.

[George Pazin]

I was actually surprised more didn't see Michael as a threat (though I shouldn't be too surprised, as the announcers aren't the sharpest folks out there).

When I looked at the leaderboard, as a big Retief fan, I thought the two most dangerous players close were Michael and David Toms. I was half right.

Michael seems like a great guy to me. I am very happy to hear from others that this is true.

Well played, much deserved, congratulations.

[David_Elvins]

Who he was before the tourney or before teeing off on Sunday is secondary, to say the least.

He was hardly an unknown though.  He has spent a fair bit of time in the Top 20 of the World Rankings in between injuries.  

[David_Elvins]

one really good - about the hopeless alcoholism and family abuse among the Maoris - I don't remember the title, but the film was absolutely heart-wrenching.

It was probably "Once were Warriors" or it's sequel "What becomes of the broken hearted".  Both very powerful films, the first a classic.

[Scott Coan]

BTW - does anyone know what the Maori sign on Campbell's shirt meant?

Voytek,

The symbol on the back of Cambo's shirt was that of a mangopare (or hammer head shark to us Pakiha <Europeans>).

Naturally, they are selling like hotcakes!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10331816

BTW
Anybody who wants to purchase one can go to
http://www.camboclothing.com

[Voytek Wilczak]

one really good - about the hopeless alcoholism and family abuse among the Maoris - I don't remember the title, but the film was absolutely heart-wrenching.

It was probably "Once were Warriors" or it's sequel "What becomes of the broken hearted".  Both very powerful films, the first a classic.

Yup.

I did not know there was a sequel - thanks for the info.

"Once were Warriors" is one powerful film - one of those you never forget.

[Stuart Donald]

Cheers to Mike. A great win without question. Taking that game to St Andrews he must be fairly confident. I bet he had a beer or two on Sunday... I know I did!
Mikes ability as a young player to shape the ball and control it were his standouts. His putting was incredible this week to match.

I understand that was Callaways first win in a major...


The Kia Kaha Kid

[Bob_Huntley]

quote author=Voytek Wilczak link=board=1;threadid=18588;start=0#msg329628 date=1119310213]
"Michael Campbell is certainly someone I find easy to root for.
His win must be a cause of great celebration to the Maoris, who, like Native Americans or the Aborigines, surely need such role models. I only speak on the basis of two movies I saw about the Maoris (one pretty bad - the Whale Rider or some such), but one really good - about the hopeless alcoholism and family abuse among the Maoris - I don't remember the title, but the film was absolutely heart-wrenching."

Voytek,

I am surprised that you thought "Whale Rider" was pretty bad. Although not Moby Dick, it had a quite charm and Keisha Castle- Hughes, the thirteen year old leading figure won an Oscar nomination for her performance.

I daresay that when dealing with oppressed minorities in film, it is now expected to wallow in the "kitchen sink" type of stuff we expect from an Osborne and ilk. Don't get me wrong, I have seen discrimination far worse than that experienced by Maoris in New Zealand. To this day one only has to go to Africa for that.... and I am not talking about white on black.