In a major development in his career, Michael Campbell is selling his palatial Sydney harbourside residence and moving his wife and family to Switzerland to live.

Campbell revealed the decision after posting a superb four under par 67 on the opening day of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre also in Switzerland.

Michael Campbell moving his family to Switzerland

Switzerland has long held special memories for the New Zealand born Campbell.

In 1993, he captured his first pro career tournament victory outside of either his native New Zealand or Australia on this week’s host course in winning the Olivier Barras Memorial on the secondary Challenge Tour.

However there are more pressing reasons why the 2005 U.S. Open champion and Callaway staff player is moving to reside in Lausanne, and around a 90-minute drive from this week’s Race to Dubai stop at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Campbell intends inspection a number of houses on Monday.

“For two years now I have been travelling back and forward from Europe to Australia, and after we sold our house in Brighton,” he said.

“It just hasn’t worked out as I have just been away too long from my wife and family.

“So we’re going to sell the house in Sydney and move over here to Switzerland where I will base myself till I stop competing.

“Tax reasons has to do with my decision but mainly it’s more to do with the family and wanting the family together.

“It’s killing my relationship with my family as I am spending so much time away from Julie and the two boys, and it’s not a healthy family lifestyle for them to be growing up with their father not always there for them.”

Campbell indicated that once settled in Switzerland he will enjoy his two sons, now aged 13 and 10, in an international school.

It will then mean, as was the scenario when he was residing in England, that Campbell will never be more than some two hours from home when competing in Europe proper.

“So while the tax concessions are nice here in Switzerland, the main reason is that with my schedule, and with the family moving over here we can remain a close family unit,” Campbell added.

“Julie and I have been working hard at finding new home and we’re confident of moving over here and settling into life in Switzerland before the year’s out.”

Campbell’s opening Omega European Masters round was his first competitive round in nearly a month since contesting the Irish Open, and the event he won in 2003.

He commenced the round with a birdie and also ended by holing a 15-foot birdie gem.

Sandwiched in the middle of his round was four straight birdies from the seventh hole that left him lying well placed and just four shots behind England’s Nick Dougherty/

Dougherty, 28 has missed the halfway cut in all 20 events this year while his 63 is his best since a final round 64 he posted to win his last event, the 2009 BMW International Open in Munich.