The peoples' choice
"New Zealand's most revered sportsman", Michael Campbell, finishes a gallant second at the NZ Golf Open, five strokes ahead of world No 1 Tiger Woods. Back in the clubhouse, Campbell announces he will allocate to children's charities every cent of NZ prize-money he wins for the rest of his career. The following day Campbell is invested as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in Wellington.
(15 January 2002)     
          

Tiger tamer
13-year-old New Zealander, Jae An, becomes the youngest ever male to play a professional golf tournament, and then the youngest golfer ever to make the cut, when he lines up alongside Tiger Woods at the New Zealand Open. "He's the most developed 13-year-old I've seen. He's young and fearless", comments Aussie pro Marcus Wheelhouse.
(10 January 2002)
          

Tartan edged
We all like success: the Scots are not immune, claiming Michael Campell's edge swing as their own.
(28 January 2001) 

Williams foundation
Kiwi super-caddie Steve Williams will auction "stuff" from Tiger Woods and other top golfers to fund promising New Zealand talent.
(18 January 2001)
             

Campbell hits record breaking haka of a round
"The New Zealand Maori produced a spear-waving, chest beating, lip-curling, foot-stompin' 63 in the first round of the English Open here yesterday". Cambell's nine under par round created a new European PGA record - no one has ever led the a European event by six shots after the first round.
(2 June 2000)
          

Walking with the Gods: Tiger Wood's Kiwi caddy
When Tiger Wood's completed his historic US Open victory by an absurd 15 strokes the first person he turned to to celebrate was his advisor, New Zealand caddy Steve Williams. Earlier this year commentator Gary Koch gave a little hint at where Wood's edge comes from, "And I think with Steve Williams on bag, he continues to make good decisions."
(18 June 2000)

   

Tiger's Big Brother
"He walks with him, laughs with him, listens to him, and knows what to say to him and how to say it." The New York Times describes Kiwi caddy Steve Williams as a big brother to Tiger, after he guided Woods to his record third major of the summer. "Stevie has been a big part of my success," said Woods, "He can read me ... And we genuinely like being around each other.. I think that makes for a wonderful partnership, especially one that lasts a long time."
(20 August 2000)

Keoghan the sportsman 
New Zealand television presenter Phil Keoghan donned a kilt, picked up a 7 iron and hit a golf ball across Scotland. As host of The Amazing Race, Keoghan has travelled the world and done some crazy things. But even he was wondering what possessed him to attempt this challenge: to hit a golf ball from coast-to-coast, ending at the birthplace of golf, Scotland's The Old Course at St. Andrews: 107 miles in 4 days, basically a marathon a day. Keoghan said: "I've always loved the people of Scotland and I just figured the best way to connect with them and really experience the culture would be through the game of golf."
(17 April 2008)

2005 Campbell's year
Golfer Michael Campbell has been named NZ’s Sportsperson of the Year for 2005 after winning both the US Open and the World Matchplay Championship in Britain. It is the second time Campbell has won the country’s top prize – he received his first NZ Sportsman of the Year award in 1993 as a member of the team that won the Eisenhower Trophy amateur golf title. NZ rowing coach Dick Tonks was named Coach of the Year, after his rowers won 4 gold medals at the 2005 world championships in Japan.
(17 February 2006)

Major Campbell
2005 is undoubtedly Michael Campbell’s year. Not content with winning the US Open last month, Campo has snatched a “knife-edge” victory in the HSBC World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth. Past winners of the esteemed tournament, which boasts the richest first prize in golf (£1 million), include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. Campbell remained typically humble after his win: “My big buzz really is to have some sort of influence on junior golf back home. My legacy one day is to see these top NZ golfers, young kids, coming through and winning lots of majors. I want to be a part of that when I retire, helping financially or helping morally, and coaching. I'll probably have a big part in the development of golf in NZ and that's really, really important to me.”
(19 September 2005)
   

Queen of the green
17-year-old Kiwi, Enu Chung, is the latest and greatest addition to Berkley University’s women’s golf team. Chung has previously represented NZ in the sport and was voted the country’s female golfer of the year for 2004. Daily Californian: “[The] long-awaited arrival of one of the top recruits in the history of the program—Enu Chung—is what has really brought the golf bug back to Berkeley, and the Bears say they once again feel the itch of being able to go out and compete with the titans of the sport.” Fellow Kiwi Claire Dury is also golfing for Berkley.
(29 March 2005)
    

Supercaddie
New York Times profiles Tiger Woods’ right-hand man, Kiwi Steve Williams. “If Tiger Woods wanted a meek caddie, he would not have hired Steve Williams … Powerfully built, meticulously prepared and fiercely loyal, Williams has successfully partnered with Woods for more than five years, becoming golf's most recognized caddie…” Woods himself is full of praise for Williams: “Every day, he brings everything he has to the table. He's into it on every shot. As a player, that's what you want. And that's what you get from Stevie.”
(2 July 2004)
   

Iron will
Golfer Phil Tataurangi has returned from injury in time to defend his Las Vegas Invitational title in October. Tataurangi was forced to drop out of the professional circuit in May in order to have corrective surgery on his back. The last 2 years have been full of highs and lows for the 31-year-old golfer: his LVI win last year - which made him one of 18 first-time winners on tour in 2002 - came just months after undergoing heart surgery.
(20 August 2003)
  

Vegas pays up
Golfer Philip Tataurangi had the first US PGA Tour win of his career at the Las Vegas Classic, beating Australia's Stuart Appleby by one shot. The 32-year-old pulled out his best round ever - 10 under par-62 - to take home the $US5 million in prize money. After shooting his way past international stars David Duval and Charles Howell III, Tataurangi played it safe: "I worked hard to get in a situation like this and I wasn't going to throw it away."
(16 October 2002)
      

Job with Perks
“A champion no one knew. A finish no one can forget.” In New Zealand’s greatest golfing moment since Bob Charles won the British Open in 1963 Craig Perks shot a stunning final round to clinch the Players’ championship – the tournament that is regarded as golfing’s fifth major. Perks's final stroke, a chip-in from thick rough behind the 18th green, brought him a theatrical victory, the richest payoff on the PGA Tour and an unlikely trip to the Masters. "A New Zealander who is not even famous in his own lounge” becomes, “The biggest outsider to win golfing’s richest tournament" 
(25 March 2002)
       

Smail away
Seven days after coming home to take the New Zealand Open, David Smail won his second professional tournament after eight years playing - the Canon Challenge in Sydney.
(29 January 2001) 
         

More than Tiger's caddy 
Golf caddy Steve Williams always wanted to carry someone else's golf clubs, and he ended up carrying them for Tiger Woods. Williams could always see that the golfers he caddied for did well. "I enjoyed it more than playing. Once I decided that's what I wanted to do, I was willing to do whatever it took to be the best," he says. While Woods is the reason Williams has become famous, his story is more than the Tiger pictures, flags and golf bags that dominate his trophy room. It's about a hard-working, blue-collar millionaire who is just as comfortable on the back stretch of a dirt track in a late-model Mustang as he is reading putts on the 18th at Augusta National. Williams was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007.
(8 April 08)

Age no barrier for Sir Bob
Sir Bob Charles made history at this year's NZ Open by becoming the oldest man to make the cut on a major non-seniors tour. The 71-year-old New Zealander finished four under par and tied for 23rd place, beating elite players such as Sweden's Daniel Chopra, a winner on the US PGA tour last month and runner-up in the recent Australian Masters. "I didn't want to come here and embarrass myself," said Charles. "The old adrenaline starts to flow with the competition and I almost felt 30 years younger." Knighted in 1999, Charles has won six times on the US PGA Tour, eight times in Australia and 23 times on the US Seniors Tour. The 2007 NZ Open was won by England's Richard Finch. 
(2 December 2007)

Kia kaha Cambo
Michael Campbell held off a late charge by Tiger Woods to win the 105th US Open at Pinehurst, his first major championship. He become the first Kiwi to win a major title since Bob Charles took the British Open Championship at Lytham 42 years ago. Campbell was overcome with emotion on the 72nd hole. He pulled his cap down over his eyes, then hugged his caddy, his shoulders shaking visibly, for several minutes as he composed himself. Steve Williams, the New Zealander who caddies for Woods, waited beside the green to congratulate Campbell. "It's been a journey," said Campbell. "I've worked really hard for this. I've had ups and downs through my whole career but it's worth the work. It's just amazing. It's completely changed my whole career. I can't believe I'm holding this trophy. I kept thinking about Bob [Charles]. I thought if I can shoot two or three under in the last round I've got a chance. Things went my way; I holed some long putts and some par-saving putts. I was telling myself 20 times a hole, 'keep your focus'." 
(19 June 2005)
   

Tataurangi topples world No.2
Kiwi golfer Phil Tataurangi brought an abrupt end to Ernie Els winning streak, knocking the South African star out of the Accenture Match Play Championship with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. The Championship pairs off 64 of the world's top-ranked golfers in a $US6 million free-for-all. Els: "I knew he was going to make that putt."
(26 February 2003)
  

Luck of the Irish?
Michael Campbell rose to 16th in the world rankings and received a timely boost before the upcoming British Open by winning the European Open and half a million Euro winner's cheque. But the Maori-NZer with the Scottish last name had jitters on the final four holes as he hacked and bogeyed his way to victory. Campbell followed up with a 6th= in the Scottish Open.
(7 July 2002)
            

Black bet
Kiwi caddie Steve Williams bets on the All Blacks to win for a tenner.
(23 July 2001)

Tiger captured
Tiger Woods is a definite starter for the New Zealand Open next January at Paraparaumu Beach.
Pdf Copy
(11 May 2001)
  

Tiger's edge
"Stevie has been in my ear about it and he has definitely told me about his auto racing...I would maybe like to possibly catch one of his races," says Tiger Woods, commenting on a possible New Zealand trip. Tiger's Grand Slam makes Kiwi Steve WiIliams the first Grand Slamming caddy ever.
(5 April 2001)
          

Gender tee-off
Michael Campbell is one of four top male golfing stars to meet women's  #1 Karrie Webb in a million dollar "Battle of the Sexes" series later this year.
(31 December 2000)

Bob Charles swings into history
On the occasion of the millennium British Open the Royal and Ancient celebrated past champions, including Kiwi Bob Charles: "Thirty-seven years after he became the first left-hander to win the title, New Zealander Bob Charles still swings with a calm assurance that allows him, at 64, to contest this year's Open."
(16 July 2000)

j'accuse! Greg Turner and the European PGA
When Greg Turner left last week's Wales Open before it even started he accused, in his unique way, the European Tour of stiffling healthy debate by placing commercial interests before course quality. On the Ryder Cup in Ireland: "The shame of it is that by staging the cup for the first time, Ireland has a huge opportunity to buy the world a beer – and it's giving them a pint of lager instead of Guinness."
(18 June 2000)
       

Bob Charles in putting pantheon
Las Vegas Sun columnist Peter Benton joins the end of century reviews and attempts to evaluate the world's greatest putter, putting Kiwi left-hander Bob Charles up there with Woods, Nicklaus and Duval.
(14 June 2000)
      

Brown the new Nobilo
Wellington golfer Mark Brown has had a successful week in India, winning first the Asian Tour's SAIL Open then clinching the US$2.5 million Johnnie Walker Classic, making him one of only six New Zealanders to ever win a European Tour title. At the Johnnie Walker Classic, Brown took the lead on the 15th hole before sealing victory with a birdie on the 18th, lifting both arms in celebration. He said the win was incredible. "It is amazing to have my name there with other winners. I've worked extremely hard for this, it is a dream come true," he said. This victory gives Brown exempt status on the world's second most influential circuit, the European Tour, until the end of 2010. 
(2 March 2008)

Luxury golf getaways  
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in the Bay of Islands was voted one of New Zealand's best resorts in 2007 and one of the top 20 resorts in the world by readers of Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report. Owned by New York hedge fund guru Julian Robertson, and conceived by New Zealand lodge designer extraordinaire Virginia Fisher, the Lodge has its own 72 par golf course, which Golf Magazine rates 41 in the world. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, also a Robertson property, boasts its own Tom Doak-designed course. Mention that you're going to either and a misty look comes into the eyes of those who've played these two remarkable courses perched above the Pacific Ocean on New Zealand's North Island. 
(22 May 2008)

Woods & Williams still a team
Steve Williams, Tiger Woods' NZ-born caddie, has denied reports he is intending to end the pair's lucrative eight-year partnership. "I have no idea where this [rumour] has come from," Williams told NZ's Sunday Star-Times. "Perhaps Tiger may not play as much now that he's a father but that doesn't make any difference to my job." Williams has previously said that he would like to pursue a full-time motor racing career when he stops working with Woods, but insists that the time has not yet arrived: "That's something that I'd like to do but caddying for the world No. 1 player is a bit more profitable and meaningful." 
(15 July 2007)

Right royal honour
Rt Hon Justice Thomas Munro Gault is to be the first NZ'er in history to head the Royal & Ancient – the prestigious governing body on the rules of golf recognised everywhere except the U.S. Gault, a NZ Supreme Court Judge and President of the Court of Appeal, will play himself into office on September 22.
(6 May 2005)
    
   

Sir Bob farewelled in almost perfect symmetry
NZ golfing great, Sir Bob Charles, made his last ever appearance at the NZ Open – an event he won for the first of 4 times as an 18-year-old amateur in 1954. Said Charles, prior to teeing off, “I'm going out there to try and enjoy the moment, wave everyone goodbye, and gallop off into the sunset.” Although failing to make the cut for the weekend play, Charles received a hero’s farewell from thousands of spectators lining the 18th fairway. He will continue to play the Champions Tour in the US. Australian Terry Price took the NZ Open title, beating 23-year-old Auckland amateur Brad Heaven by just one stroke. Price: “As much as I wanted to win, a part of me was saying how great it would be for NZ golf if [Heaven] won … What a great story it would have been had he done it 50 years after Bob Charles.” Heaven received the Bledisloe Cup for leading amateur.
(14 January 2004)   

Down Under up-and-coming
CNN profiles the rash of Australasian talent currently infiltrating PGA ranks. Included in its top ten are two NZ golfers, “since to North Americans they’re Down Under, too” - Michael Campbell (world ranking 45) and Phil Tataurangi (world ranking 118).
(13 January 2004)

Caddie by day…
Steve Williams - the NZ-born caddie to Tiger Woods - is gaining sponsorship recognition in his own right. The race car driver has just signed a lucrative deal with Valvoline, whose logo he will wear while caddying for the world No.1. Williams: "I love to caddie and I love to race cars, and I give each of them my undivided attention when I'm doing them."
(13 February 2003)
   

"Fairway to heaven"
"Spectacularly gorgeous NZ a bargain for golfers" (Detroit Free Press). Golf-mad travel writer scours the length of the country for the best greens available - from the golden beaches of Kauri Cliffs to mountain views at Lake Wakatipu. The verdict? What with the food, fishing, scenery (and golf) "the hardest part of a trip to NZ is leaving."
(29 December 2002)
   

Fit to fight Tiger
Top Kiwi golfer and World No.15 Michael Campbell answers the Independent's Q&A about his routine - how he gets into the mental and physical swing of things ...
(23 July 2001)
               

Swinging fortune
Michael Campbell hits an astonishing ten under par round in the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open, briefly overshadowing Tiger Woods. But, Campbell commented "It's nice to lead, but I would rather be leading after the fourth round than after the first".
(18 May 2001)
         

Flying scrum
Steve Williams, caddie to Tiger, has clocked up enough frequent flyer miles "to take a manager, two coaches and three rugby teams from New Zealand to Australia."
(17 April 2001)
          

The Legend of Steve Williams
Tiger's clubs net the "amiable Kiwi" over $1 million - making Williams an international top-dollar caddy. Also, will Williams bring Tiger down under?
(17 March 2001)
              

Defending Champ
Michael Campbell came from behind to retain his title at the 2001 Heineken Classic in Perth.
(5 February 2001)

Bank on Campbell
Michael Campbell, in "irresistible" form, caps a brilliant year by claming the title of New Zealand's best-paid sportsman from Steve Williams, caddy for Tiger Woods.
(5 January 2001)