Major Champion Michael Campbell embraced his Scottish roots on the eve of the Scottish Senior Open at Craigielaw Golf Club.
The 2005 U.S. Open Championship winner will tee it up for the first time at the Staysure Tour event after turning 50 at the beginning of the year, making something of a ‘homecoming’ in East Lothian.
Campbell can trace his Scottish ancestry back to his great-great-great grandfather, Sir Logan Campbell, who emigrated to New Zealand and became Mayor of Auckland.
To mark the Kiwi’s first appearance at the Scottish Senior Open, he swapped his golf attire for highland regalia, donning the Black Watch tartan, close to the Campbell Clan colours, ahead of the tournament beginning on Friday.
Kinloch Anderson, who have been making kilts and highland dress since 1868, supplied the highland dress, which brought back memories for Campbell.
“When I first came to Scotland and played St Andrews in 1995 it felt like a country and part of the world where I belonged,” said Campbell. “For me being a golfer, there is a nice synergy with playing golf and the family originating from Scotland. I love coming back to Scotland.
“My family instilled my Scottish heritage in me a long time ago. It’s important to have a look at your family tree and go back and see where your family came from.
“My father started looking into the family tree in the 1980s and I came over to Scotland in 1996 to complete it. I went back to my great-great-great grandfather’s house – Sir Logan Campbell – and it was such a cool thing to see where the family started.”
The Scottish Senior Open gets under way on Friday August 16, with Campbell joined in the field by fellow Major champions Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam. Entrance to the course is free and parking is only £5 in aid of Longniddry & District Rotary Club. With proof of purchase of a ticket to the recent Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open there is no charge for parking.
