Golf: Turner not concerned by Campbell's absence

Former Otago professional Greg Turner does not believe the absence of Michael Campbell will be too big a blow to the New Zealand Open.

Turner has also defended the struggling Campbell's decision to bypass the Open, the third to be held at The Hills in Arrowtown, in favour of tournaments in Asia in late January.

The Sunday Star-Times yesterday revealed Campbell planned to flag both the New Zealand PGA and the Open in favour of a three-tournament swing through Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

The 2005 US Open champion needs to break out of a prolonged form slump and lift his world ranking - it stands at 433 - to stay on the US PGA Tour beyond 2010.

That is bad news for a New Zealand Open tournament that will probably also have to do without wunderkind Danny Lee and the great Sir Bob Charles.

While there will be plenty of well-performed New Zealand professionals, experienced Australians and talented young Americans, there is nothing like a home-grown hero to get fans through the gate.

Turner, the 1989 and 1997 Open champion, is not surprised Campbell has chosen to start the year by playing in Asia.

"He hasn't exactly had a stellar year. I can understand why he'd want to go and try to take care of business," Turner told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.

"Maybe when you come through a period of that sort of form, the last thing you need to do is be in the spotlight.

"I suspect one of the reasons for going is that he can quietly . . . try to turn the corner. It's always a bit harder to do when you're the focal point."

Campbell, who won the New Zealand Open in 2000, missed the cut at The Hills in 2007 and did not play in the tournament earlier this year because of injury.

While Campbell once committed to playing in his home Open every year as long as he was healthy, Turner said there should be no suggestion the former world No 14 was being disloyal by missing the January 28-31 tournament.

"I think you've got to be a bit empathetic with him. He needs to start playing well and if he feels like he's got a better chance of doing that in the Middle East and Europe, then that's what he should do.

"Michael's career has been full of cycles, long periods of not playing well and then coming back.

"He's been at the well a few times and has surprised many by bouncing back. Who's to say what his future holds? I wouldn't write him off because he has shown the ability to put lengthy periods of play behind him quite quickly."

Turner was the most outspoken critic seven years ago when New Zealand Golf splashed out $4 million to attract Tiger Woods to the Open.

Perhaps that is why he is not concerned about the prospect of a tournament lacking any real star power.

"The New Zealand Open is sort of a developmental event. That's just the lot of this part of the world. You know more about the guys that play well after the tournament, not before it.

"I doubt there are going to be any marquee players. But there will be a lot of really good players, playing very good golf."

The New Zealand Open will again be co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour and the Australasian Tour.