Michael Campbell has resolved his differences with New Zealand Golf (NZG) in a meeting during last week's British Open at Hoylake in England.
Campbell met NZG chief executive Larry Graham, who had flown to the Royal Liverpool course specifically to seek out the 2005 US Open champion.
His first task
was to try to defuse a public row over NZG's protracted search for a principal sponsor to bankroll the New Zealand Open in November.
In May, Campbell described the situation as ridiculous, said "heads must roll" and spoke of funding the tournament himself.
Graham declined at the time to respond to Campbell's stinging criticism, saying he first wanted to speak to the New Zealand No 1.
After two months, Campbell said the air had been cleared.
"Larry and I went out to dinner and had a discussion that was very, very positive," Campbell said.
"I am grateful Larry made the effort to travel to Hoylake and it was good to sit down with him and clear the air. We talked about the future of New Zealand golf.
"So as long as we all work together, I can see nothing but good tidings ahead for New Zealand golf."
NZG has conducted a long search to pin down a principal sponsor to cover an estimated $1 million of the $3.5 million required to stage this year's Open.
It lost $459,000 on the 2005 tournament, the first in a five-year deal for the championship to operate as a con-sanctioned European and Australasian tour event.
Campbell said Graham indicated to him that a sponsor had come on board for this year's tournament starting on November 30 but neither would reveal who it was.
"We agreed also that I won't be committing any of my own savings to the running of the event as the sponsor they've found will fill the budget," he said.
"I agree also that I maybe should not have said what I said some months ago but I was speaking from the heart and everyone in New Zealand knows just how passionate I am about everything New Zealand.
"I said earlier this year I would be contesting the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour and I am looking forward to teeing-up in the tournament."
Graham also met officials from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, along with representatives of the European Tour.
- NZPA
