How Campbell came back from brink

Michael Campbell clutched the US Open trophy to his chest today and revealed how he might never have realised his triumph over Tiger Woods had he followed an instinct to quit the game of golf.

Campbell, ranked 80th in the world, kept his cool here while scores soared along with the temperature to win his maiden major by two shots from Woods, the world No1.

But the confident manner in which the 36-year-old Brighton-based New Zealander was able to shoot a oneunderpar final round of 69, for a level par total of 280, was in stark contrast to the dire form which almost caused him to seek another means of earning a living back in 1998.

Three years earlier Campbell had marked his debut in the Open Championship at St Andrews by leading into the final day and when he eventually finished tied for third behind John Daly it seemed he was set for stardom.

But he admitted: "I was overcome by all the attention. I was 26 years old, it was my first year on the European tour, I was leading the Open, but I come from a very humble background. I was born in a little country town with a population of about 2,000 with more cows and sheep than there are people. From being this quiet little Maori boy I was shunted into the limelight."

Chasing fame came at the cost of a wrist injury and his game went to pieces, so much so that he lost his Tour cards in Australasia and Europe.

"I was going to give up the game," said Campbell. "I just couldn't focus on what I was doing. One time I remember throwing my golf bag across my room in a hotel. I was about to get an axe and chop them up and throw them away. I thought 'this is it, it's all over'."

Campbell credited his comeback to support from his wife Julie and a traditional-Maori saying "Kia Kaha", it means "stay strong", that had been passed on to him by his grandmother.

"Now I've won the US Open it's unbelievable," he said. "It will change my life but I've worked hard for it and I deserve it."

Campbell, whose great great great grandfather Sir Logan Campbell emigrated from Edinburgh to New Zealand in 1840, pockets prize money worth £645,410.