Campbell Excited Teeing Up In Thailand Open
Bernie McGuire
Wednesday, 13th August, 2011
Of course, Michael Campbell would love to be contesting this week’s U.S. PGA Championship in Atlanta.
And while Campbell is not eligible to compete in the States, he intends to make the most of his appearance in the Thailand Open.
The OneAsia event boasts a $US1m prize purse and is the eighth tournament on the Tour’s schedule of 13 events.
Joining Campbell will be fellow European Tour colleague and leading Thai player, Thongchai Jaidee, along with Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama who played in the victorious 1998 Presidents Cup side.
And also in the field is Japan’s swash-buckling Shingo Katayama who 10 years ago made a name for himself in the U.S. PGA Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club where the season ending Major is being played this week.
Campbell is returning to competing since missing the halfway cut in the Irish Open, and travelled to Thailand from his home in Sydney.
“In golf, it is like a business so when things are not going right you have to change a few things around, which I did last year,” said Campbell referring to his work with new coach, Gary Edwin.
“I changed coaches and I'm now with Gary Edwin. This year has been promising with glimpses of some good stuff on the European Tour.
“It’s the first time I’ve been in Thailand for some time since the Johnnie Walker Classic, so I am very excited about this week.
“It is a great golf course here at Suwan Golf and Country Club and the greens are the best I have putted on in Asia.
“They are really so good, it is amazing.
“It is going to be a pretty exciting week as there is a great field once again with a lot of good players.
“So I am looking forward to the next four days.”
And while Campbell is delighted to be working with Queensland-based Gary Edwin, he’s revealed he’s gone back to the way he ‘used to swing the club’.
“The biggest mistake I made after winning the U.S. Open was changing too many things,” he said.
“I do not know why but I did it.
“When I think about it, it makes me mad. I have gone back full circle and I am now on the up.
“But then I grew up playing golf in Asia and I am used to the weather and the heat, so fitness will be very important this week.
“And yes, I have had a lot of success here so I feel very comfortable here.
“So really I am pretty excited about playing well again so looking forward to the week.”
And was the case in seeing Padraig Harrington capture three Majors, so too has Campbell been pleased to see fellow ’40-something’ Darren Clarke seal victory in last month’s British Open.
“When you see a friend of mine, Darren Clarke, winning The Open it shows that age is no barrier,” said Campbell.
“That is really encouraging and it has inspired me. It shows that if you are on your game you can win Majors. I have proven that. There is no reason I cannot do it again.”
Campbell will play the first two rounds in the company of Ashun Wu and Prom Meesawat, and with the trio teeing off at 12 noon local time.
