Ben Campbell’s difficult 2022

By Neville Idour

Queenstown professional Ben Campbell was happy to talk about a difficult 2022 and look ahead to 2023 after an excellent effort in The Hills Invitation Pro-Am in mid-December.

“I had a good start to the year and played really nicely, having a couple of good chances to win in Asia,’’ Campbell said.

Four weeks before The (British) Open I was in the gym and picked up a weight and felt my back go. I picked up a bulged disc but played The Open. We didn’t realise how bad it was. I played two more events straight after The Open and it was really bad and not getting better.

“So I came home and had a scan to confirm a bulged disc. I took a couple of months off and it took a long time to come right. It actually took about 12 weeks before it started feeling better. I got left with quite a bit of nerve trouble in my lower back so I have been battling with that. I am waiting to get a nerve ablation done on that (to surgically remove the irritation by killing the nerve).

Ben Campbell with his trophies following his win in the 2018 NZPGA .file

“Hopefully I can start back up again in the second week of February when the Asian Tour kicks off. I have a medical exemption for the Asian Tour.”

Amazingly The Hills Pro-Am was his first hit out in four or five months so his fifth placing was extremely encouraging especially his cracking second round 68. This scribe enjoyed watching him hit greens consistently in regulation.

We asked if he would play any Australasian Tour events. The answer was no as it is before he goes to Asia.

“I have been on that tour for the last four or five years so I have my full card.”

Does the LIV Tour involvement have benefits for the tour?

“The Saudis have been there for the last couple of years so the Asian Tour is on the rise and getting a lot bigger. The purses this year were a lot better and next year (2023) looks really good.

“It is probably getting back to what the tour was when I first went up there and it was big. It is now obviously a pathway to the LIV Tour. If you play well in Asia you can get on LIV. If I qualified I would definitely play the LIV Tour. If you can be in the top three on the order of merit in the International Series you can get on the LIV Tour.”

What about the NZ Open?

“It is part of the Asian Tour so I will be back for that although I don’t know about the NZ PGA. It will depend on the Asian Tour schedule. That will take priority as it provides pathways. It is going to be a very big tour in the next few years so it is exciting up there”

For Campbell, after his injury curtailed his last two or three years, it will be nice to see him have an injury free 2023 and fulfil his undoubted ability with a stellar year.