KEY POINTS:
It doesn't matter if he bogeyed the final hole last week and slipped back into that six-way tie for second place. There is no doubt Michael Campbell was the best performer at the New Zealand Open.
Two weeks ago this column noted that our best golfer had far
too many commitments scheduled during his eight-day visit and that if he didn't play well in the tournament, he could almost be excused.
When he finally left these shores last Tuesday, he must have been exhausted. But he can reflect proudly on the immense good he did for New Zealand youth and New Zealand golf in the time he was here. He was also an object lesson to sportsmen and women in all codes by imparting the most precious gifts an athlete can give his fans: Humility and time.
Think of Michael's commitments here. On the Monday night, he was special guest at a fund-raising dinner at Te Papa in Wellington. He flew to Auckland next day, played half a practice round at Gulf Harbour, and returned to Auckland for the New Zealand Golf Awards dinner.
On Wednesday he faced the media in the first of numerous commitments. Then he played the pro-am, attended the prizegiving dinner that night - and made yet another speech.
For the next four days, he was the main focus of the tournament as he tried to win his national open for the second time. Each day he took most of the gallery with him and set the tournament up beautifully for the weekend with his scintillating 65 on Friday afternoon.
While his rounds on Saturday and Sunday produced their fair share of frustrations, he honoured media commitments, taking time out for substantive conversations on camera and in the media centre. Before and after talking to the media, he was busy signing autographs.
Then, after having his victory ambition thwarted by strong winds, bumpy greens and one of the best rounds of Nathan Green's career, Campbell, in the absence of the defending champion, gracefully presented the stunning korowai to Green at the awards ceremony.
Back in Auckland next day he took a morning clinic at the Remuera Golf Club for his equipment supplier Callaway and in the afternoon went across town to Chamberlain Park for another demonstration, this time with around 200 children for the Ngaki Tamaraiki trust, a Maori golf development programme of which he was a beneficiary as a teenager.
After that it was back to the hotel for a quick shower and to don his dinner suit for the third time in a week to be guest of honour at yet another fundraising dinner for his charities at the Hyatt. This time he was a major part of the night's entertainment, answering questions from Paul Holmes.
Phew. Think about that week. Three black tie dinners, five press conferences, countless TV interviews, two public coaching clinics, constantly the centre of attention. Oh, and one of the most significant golf tournaments of his year.
Yet Michael did it with a minimum of fuss, always with a smile, and always obliging.
The man is a national gem.
