Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open Champion, has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour in recognition of his outstanding achievement in capturing his first Major title at Pinehurst No.2, North Carolina, in June.
The 36 year old New Zealander was presented with his Membership card as the 29th Honorary Member from George O'Grady, Executive Director of The European Tour, at Club de Golf Valderrama as he set out on the final leg of a season-long quest to win The European Tour Order of Merit.
Campbell has been a staunch supporter of The European Tour for over a decade in which he came close to winning The Open Championship at St Andrews in 1995 and played for a spell on the Challenge Tour before returning to form and collecting six titles on The European Tour and joining the golfing elite at Pinehurst in 2005.
In winning the US Open Championship, the popular Maori became the first New Zealand golfer to win a Major since Bob Charles in 1963 and his stunning two stroke triumph over World Number One Tiger Woods sparked jubilant scenes in his native country and, for once, knocked the mighty All Blacks off the back pages!
Campbell said: “I am honoured to receive Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour. I have a home in England and have enjoyed the competition and camaraderie on Tour enormously over the past ten years. I feel very privileged that my US Open victory has been recognised by the Tour in this way.”
George O’’Grady, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “This award is accorded to very special players who have won Major Championships or contributed significantly to The European Tour. Both those criteria apply to Michael, who has been one of the Tour’’s most loyal supporters over the past decade.
“We are delighted to honour a player who has not only played marvellous golf on The European Tour over that period, but displayed considerable fortitude and skill in fending off the challenge from many of the world’’s greatest players to capture the US Open in June.”
