Campbell chasing LIV spot given to series winner

Ben Campbell plays his approach shot on the 15th hole during the International Series England...
Ben Campbell plays his approach shot on the 15th hole during the International Series England tournament at Foxhills in Ottershaw last month. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
It is shaping up to be a very big couple of months for Queenstown golfer Ben Campbell.

And there could be a significant prize at the end.

Campbell has his sights set squarely on winning the International Series.

The series consists of 10 tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and offers the rankings leader a spot on the lucrative LIV circuit.

Campbell, who has already had a brief taste of the LIV world, sits second on the International Series list after four events, including his victory at International Series Morocco in July.

He now has six Asian Tour events in the space of eight weeks, including the defence of the Hong Kong Open title he claimed so memorably last year, to chase down rankings leader John Catlin and grab the coveted LIV spot.

"I have been playing well this year, and I am looking forward to battling it out with John," Campbell told the International Series.

"I was playing some great golf last year, leading up to the Hong Kong Open, and then obviously to win that really gave me a lot of confidence. It really helped me kick on this year. And I have been playing well this year.

"I have always loved Hong Kong Golf Club and to get my first Asian Tour title there was amazing.

"To play so well and to get the win like that ... in a tournament with so much history was awesome."

Campbell’s Hong Kong win last year came after birdies on the final two holes helped him slip past major winner Cameron Smith.

His victory in Morocco in July was an even bigger smash-and-grab raid.

From three shots back with two holes to play, an eagle-birdie finish hauled him back to level on the final hole, forcing a playoff with Catlin.

Campbell completed a memorable victory with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole at Royal Dar Es Salam.

It will be life-changing if Campbell can get a regular LIV spot — and a heck of a reward for one of New Zealand golf’s unsung heroes, who has overcome serious injuries and surgeries to battle to the top.

He took part in the LIV Promotions event in Abu Dhabi last year but fell just short of a place in the 20-man field that went on to battle for three permanent cards.

As a regular alternate, and a brief fill-in at a couple of tournaments, he tasted enough of the LIV life last season to know he was eager to return, and the International Series was the ideal opportunity to do it.

"For the Asian Tour, it has been great having that pathway through to LIV.

"Obviously, there is so much to play for, and the International Series events just seem to be getting better and better. The events are run so well, and we have had the tournaments around some incredible, really world-class golf courses."

Campbell’s next stop on the series is the Black Mountain Championship in Thailand next month.

He is also a confirmed entrant at the $2US million ($NZ3.2m) Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, after which he will attempt to defend the Hong Kong Open.