Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champion, has announced his retirement from professional golf.
In an interview with Radio Sport (via the New Zealand Herald), Campbell stated: “It’s been a very difficult transition for me. All of my friends who are the same age as me are still out there competing and doing well. It makes you wonder maybe I should go back and play but right now I have got no motivation to play.”
The now-46-year-old won eight times on the European Tour and seven times on the Australian Tour. He enjoyed his best year as a pro in 2005, winning the U.S. Open by two shots over Tiger Woods in June and taking the HSBC World Match Play that September for his last professional victory.
Campbell is one of only two New Zelanders to ever win a major, alongside 1963 British Open champion Bob Charles.
“Obviously 10 years ago was something special for me and for the country and for golf itself,” he said. “I fulfilled one of my dreams to win a major and it was fantastic. But as everyone knows, it has been well-documented, my career since then hasn’t been great. But if I walk away from the game right now I could be very proud of my achievements.”
