Between them Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell captured three U.S. Open championships but there’s not one bit of advice and only praise they could offer to new U.S. Open champion, Rory McIlroy.

Goosen captured a first U.S. Open a decade ago in defeating American Mark Brooks in an 18-hole Monday play-off at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Three years later the South African shocked the golf world in humbling Phil Mickelson by two strokes at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island.

A year later in 2005, Campbell brought proceedings in the New Zealand Parliament to a standstill in denying Tiger Woods at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

Goosen finished 17 strokes adrift of McIlroy and had felt from Friday’s second round he and the remainder of the field were simply vying for second place.

“I thought it was about time Rory won a Major Championship, and I’ve always said he has the best swing in golf, so when his putting is hot, he wins,” said Goosen after a 68 on day one of the rain-affected BMW International Open in Munich.

“Apart from the last hole on Friday, Rory played great for four days and his win was well-deserved.

“But then when I played the course on Monday it was rock hard and I thought to myself that two-over par would win.  Then the rain came that softened the greens, and with the rough not too high, I thought this will be easy.

“But then one guy just ran away with it.”

Campbell missed the Congressional cut but remained in the Washington DC to practice and to also watch the events of last weekend unfold.

“I just feel very privileged that my name is on the U.S. Open trophy before Rory,” said Campbell smiling.

“After watching the way he won last week who’s to say he could win the U.S. Open for many more years to come.

“His performance in Washington was just phenomenal.

“I remember when I first played with him last year during the Abu Dhabi Championship and I was very impressed then and even moreso now.

“Rory’s the full package and even back then I thought to myself he’s got ‘Major Champion’ written all over him.”

And Campbell, who certainly impressed in keeping Tiger Woods at arm’s reach to win 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, has been gob-smacked McIlroy should bounce back to win at the game’s highest level in the very first Major since his much-publicised Masters meltdown.

“I think he surprised a good few people but then for a 22-year old, Rory has a very wise head,” said Campbell after recording a disappointing 77.

“Even though it was not to early last year I played alongside him, I know he’s been out here playing since 15 when he was still an amateur.

“You can’t put a price tag on that experience.

“And Rory’s obviously got a good management team behind him headed by ‘Chubby’ (Andrew Chandler – ISM), and I’m sure he won’t need any advice from me.

“He’s also very close to G Mac (Graeme McDowell) and Darren Clarke so it seems all sorted out and good luck to him because he seems as though he’s going to win many more Majors.”