In the latest of our ‘Meet the Rookies’ series, we meet Jorge Campillo, who bounced back from a crushing final-day disappointment at the 2010 Qualifying School to claim a European Tour card for 2012 through the Challenge Tour.
What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Jorge Campillo was facing a long winter of deep reflection after falling at the final hurdle in the emotional rollercoaster that is the Qualifying School.
The Spaniard was nigh on guaranteed a card for The European Tour after the first five days of the gruelling event and was in contention, three shots off the lead at PGA Catalunya Resort on 13 under par.
But, with the finish line in sight, it all went horribly wrong for the 25 year old on the final day. Six bogeys and two double-bogeys later, his dreams of a European Tour card were in tatters as he finished in 55th place.
A year later, however, Campillo is ready to mix it with the big boys after taking a different route to The European Tour, via the Challenge Tour. With a season of good results and invaluable experience behind him, Campillo now looks upon his painful experience at the Qualifying School as a blessing in disguise.
“Thinking about it now, it was a very tough day,” he reflected. “I felt like I didn’t want to play golf for a long while. But I think it was a good thing in hindsight, going on the Challenge Tour and trying to beat some really good players, and it’s all experience for the main Tour.”
Despite the fact that a win on the Challenge Tour eluded him in a season in which he finished ninth in the Rankings, the Cáceres native is no stranger to success.
As an amateur, he represented Spain at under-16, under-18, under-21 and Senior level, while he was also selected for the Continental European team for the 2008 St Andrews Links Trophy.
His status as one of Spain’s biggest up-and-coming stars was sealed in 2008, his breakthrough year, when he won the Spanish Amateur Championship.
“That was probably my biggest win as an amateur,” said Campillo. “It’s always good to win the home tournament of your country and I wanted to win it. I always played well in it but didn’t win it so it was great to finally get it.
“I learned a lot from that day and hopefully I can take that experience into the future. I have a lot of experience in my amateur career so it’s time to make that count in my professional career.”
While he was ranked as Spain’s number one amateur for six separate years, he was also making a huge impression in the USA as a student at Indiana University, winning the Big Ten Golfer of the Year, Les Bolstad Award (presented to the Big Ten player with the lowest average) and a Big Ten Championship in 2008.
“I really enjoyed it out there,” he recalled. “It was a good college career and my last three years were really good. I was top of the list at the end of the year twice.
“I was second quite a few times in tournaments, behind Rickie Fowler at one point and behind Danny Lee once too, but never got the chance to make number one.”
He also had a reputation as an impressive team player, proven by his St Andrews Links Trophy selection in 2008 and his record of three Palmer Cup appearances, representing the European collegiate team.
It is a trait which has been characteristic of so many Spanish golfers who have come before him, not least his childhood idol, Seve Ballesteros.
“When I grew up Seve was my hero,” he said. “I didn’t get to watch him much though because by the time I was eight or nine he wasn’t as good any more, but I watched him on videos. Then, growing up, Luke Donald was a big inspiration. When I started watching him and liking him he wasn’t as good, but he’s got pretty good obviously!”
Campillo certainly displays the calm nature of Donald, while his admirable achievement in bouncing back from adversity is reminiscent of the great Ballesteros.
He has passed some of the big examinations that have come his way thus far, but can Campillo handle the biggest test of all?
Find out in 2012 as he bids to retain his card and, who knows, perhaps even capture his maiden European Tour title.
