Michael Campbell

Sporting News, The, July 8, 2005

It's an old story, although it never really gets old: A golfer hits a low point in this confounding game and nearly gives it up, only to recover his swing and his passion and, eventually, re-experience the thrill of victory. The story doesn't get better than it did last month with Michael Campbell, who--seven years after losing his cards on the European and Australian tours--won the U.S. Open.

The victory for Campbell, a 36-year-old from New Zealand, was especially remarkable because he was the only player at Pinehurst to finish at par and he had to hold off Tiger Woods, who had charged to within two shots of the lead with seven holes to play. And it was especially sweet--for golf fans around the world--when Campbell broke down in tears on the 18th green, the victory of his life behind him and a whole new world before him.

SPORTING NEWS editors choose one player each month whose performance demonstrates the "Character of a Champion."