Campbell scoops award

Michael Campbell’s astonishing US Open victory – after he sank a birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to get in – has made him the European Tour’s Golfer of the Month for June.

The 36-year-old became only the second New Zealander to win a major championship, following in the illustrious footsteps of 1963 Open champion Bob Charles. He also became just the 10th non-American to lift the US Open title.

Campbell won with a level-par total of 280 to thwart Tiger Woods’s challenge for a second successive major win this season.

“Obviously I am very delighted to receive this award,” he said.

“I’ve been on a rocket ride for the last few weeks and every so often I get flashbacks to what happened at Pinehurst.

“Really, its been a wonderful month and the US Open win has been a life-changing and career-changing event. I’ve enjoyed the journey immensely.

“Since 1995, when I led the Open at St Andrews after three rounds, something has been scratching away in my mind that I was capable of winning a major and it was a case of being patient and having the belief.”