NEW DELHI: For Michael Campbell , life after the 2005 US Open golf triumph was sweet madness. There was a ticker-tape parade in Wellington with 120,000 people welcoming him home after the pathbreaking victory. “‘It was the second-best parade in New Zealand history’, the organizer had said, and my ego was a little deflated,” Cambo, here for the India Legends Championship, recalled, laughing.
“‘Who was the first?’ I was curious. “‘Oh, the Beatles!’ came the reply. “I said ‘I can handle that’.
“Then I realised I had made a huge impact here. I even stopped Parliament proceedings for a day.” It was a magical mystery tour, and he was ready to ‘carry the weight’ of his grandmother Titihuia’s words.
“When I was 10 years old, my grandma said I was going to be great but then, I must remember one thing — we are given two hands for a reason, one to receive and one to give!” It was his calling. “I was quite an unusual kid growing up because I wanted bigger things in life. Most of my friends wanted to have a nine-tofive job, which is fair enough.
But I knew deep down in my soul that I could do something to make a difference. A lot of doubters said Maoris don’t play golf on a professional level. Maoris played rugby.
So, I broke a lot of barriers. I used that as motivation.” And the reaction to his major win was the vehicle for change.
“I wanted to share my success with my people and take the trophy to the kids, inspire them. I came from a ve.