Cambo Believes Like His Own Major Championship Triumph, Fox’s Open Championship Success Will Serve As An Inspiration For New Zealand Sport

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Michael Campbell believes just like his own major championship triumph 21-years ago in denying Tiger Woods US Open Championship glory at famed Pinehurst, Ryan Fox’s effort in capturing the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale will have the same sporting spinoff in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Sir Bob Charles was the first Kiwi to win a Major at the 1963 Open and it was then 42 years before the country savoured another triumph with Campbell triumphant at the 2005 U.S. Open.

Lydia Ko then won three Majors in the women’s game before Fox’s brilliant triumph at Royal Birkdale put his name on that roll of honour.

Fox brilliantly posted four birdies on the back nine, including three almost perfect blows on the last, but also bogeyed the 15th after deciding to play backwards out of a fairway bunker.

Cambo esured all of New Zealand was late for work that Monday morning 20th June, 2005 in watching live TV coverage of that last round and it was a similar like scenario very early last Monday morning NZ time with sports fans glued to the ‘box’ from the very early hours of Monday.

And Campbell believes, and very much like the spin-off affect of his own major triumph, that Fox’s success at Royal Birkdale will encourage inpiring young Kiwi golfers to take inspiration from his achievement.

“I think Foxy’s win is going to be inspirational for the young kids that will hopefully be out in the backyard hitting a golf club now,” Cambo said.

“After my win I noticed a big change, a big shift, you could say, of more young kids playing the game. No disrespect to the other sports: rugby, rugby league, netball, cricket, whatever, but now it’s opened like a new door for kids to see that it is possible. If Ryan Fox can do it, if I can do, if Lydia Ko can do it, so can they. It’s all about just dreaming and believing you can do it.

“So hopefully this will kickstart again the interest in golf and have more champion golfers out there.”

And Campbell believes that combination of aggression and strategy puts Fox’s triumphs in the very top drawer of Major wins.

“It was so exciting, I was so proud of him,” he said. “The whole country would be proud of him, what he achieved three days ago.

“Four birdies, are you kidding me, in a Major? Those three shots on 18 were incredible.

“He manned up and just said ‘I’m going for it’. He’s such a gutsy, gritty little player. He’s aggressive, determined and a great ball-striker.

“He had a sniff and he took it. That’s one thing I like about Foxy. You see him, how many he’s won and in America and the PGA Championship in Wentworth – got in the lead, he took it by the throat and decided to play well and he did.

“The way he played the 15th hole was very, very smart. Goes to show that he was in the moment. Goes to show that he’s very focused on what he’s doing, and the result was obviously winning The Open.

“I first played with Foxy about 15 years ago and he was a little bit rough around the edges but he’s obviously now smoothed out all those kind of niggling bad shots and stuff like that. It’s great to see the country is proud of him.

“I think it’s one of the best golfing achievements ever, besides my win and obviously Bob Charles and Lydia Ko winning three Majors. I think under the circumstances, it’s definitely just phenomenal to see him play well. Just amazing.”

Campbell revealed he has been something of a mentor to Fox and exchanged messages with his countryman before the final round got under way.

But he will not be giving him any advice on his swing and would encourage all players to follow Fox’s lead and stick to what works, even if it may be unorthodox.

“He’s got a great team around him,” he said. “His coach I’ve known for a very long time.

“It’s a swing that you can’t replicate but works for him. That’s the main thing, swing your swing. A lot of golfers can get away from that. You can’t copy what Scottie Scheffler does or Rory McIlroy or Xander Schauffele, professionals.

“As amateurs, most of the guys are sitting on a desk and watching in front of the computer and play golf on the weekend and practise once a week.

“I think my advice to all these youngsters watching this video is swing your swing and do your thing”.

Cambo was speaking at this week’s ISPS Handa Senior Open taking place on the Kings course at Gleneagles, Scotland.

Great words, Cambo and thank you, DP World Tour.



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