Breakthrough Year, 2005
The year 2005 started out as if it would be a disaster year for Campbell, however in the end, it developed into the peak of his career. He never made the cut in his first five 2005 tournaments, averaging 75 strokes in the first rounds of each of those tournaments. Then suddenly, there was a turnaround and he missed only one cut in the next 16 tournaments. He finished in the top six of both the Open Championship and PGA Championship, and recorded top-five placings in three other tournaments.
And then there was the 2005 US Open. In order to make it to Pinehurst, Campbell had to go through sectional qualifying. He took advantage of the fact that the United States Golf Association, the organizers of the U.S. Open, had introduced European qualifying for the first time, which took place at Walton Heath. He had to sink a 6-foot birdie putt on the last hole of qualifying to secure his place in the U.S. Open.
In the tournament itself, Campbell ended the third round four strokes behind Retief Goosen, the event's defending champion who looked ready for a coronation on Sunday. On the final day, Goosen ballooned to an 81. Campbell shot 69 (1 under par) for the final round and was the only golfer in the last two pairings of the day to break 80. Campbell's main competition turned out to be Tiger Woods, who at one point closed to within one shot of Campbell.
In the end, Woods was undone by bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes, and Campbell won his first major by two shots, carding an even par of 280. With his win, he became only the second New Zealander to win a major (after Bob Charles), and also the first winner of the U.S. Open since Steve Jones in 1996 who had entered the event via sectional qualifying.
Two months later, in August, Campbell consolidated his new status as one of the world's top contenders when he tied for 6th in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, won by Phil Mickelson. It has long been said that the cream rises to the top in majors, and this was no exception, with eight of the top 10 finishers having previously won a major.
On 29 October 2005, Campbell was awarded with the Honorary Life Membership of The European Tour for his U.S. Open win.
Among his many New Zealand television appearances in 2008 was a cameo role in an episode of sports skit comedy show Pulp Sport.
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