Tony Grantham (North Shore) is a world champion.
But he admitted some nerves when he stepped on to the mat in Dunedin.
Grantham (35), an Air New Zealand aircraft welder, won the world champion of champions singles title when he beat Willie James (Swaziland) 16-3, 6-6 last November.
But playing in the North East Valley Invitation singles for the first time was more nerve-racking.
"I got some easy games at the world championships but there are no easy games here," Grantham said.
"They are all tough. When I came here I just wanted to go out, put on a good performance and play well."
The pressure was on Grantham because he is on the verge of New Zealand selection and high performance coach Dave Edwards and new selector Terry Scott were watching.
Grantham still remains in contention for the New Zealand 10-man squad despite winning only three of his seven section games and failing to qualify for post-section games.
He has had a successful record on the national scene since he was a surprise winner of the New Zealand championship singles in Dunedin early last year.
Grantham added the national fours title last January and backed it up with a silver medal in the pairs.
He is also adjusting his game to suit the set play style that will be used at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.
"I'd prefer the 21-up or the 25-up game, but I'm getting more comfortable with set play now," he said.
"The key to set play is not to drop too many shots. If you are going to drop a shot, limit it to one. You can't afford to drop threes."
He made an urgent trip to Dunedin for the New Zealand championships last year to join international Rowan Brassey in the pairs, when Gary Lawson was forced to withdraw after his wife's accident.
His brother John paid the air fare but was compensated when he won $1800 by betting on his brother to win the singles title on the TAB, when Grantham was paying 60 to one.
"That title also meant a lot to me," Grantham said.
"It gave me the belief that I could do well in the world champion of champions event."
Rowan Brassey, one of New Zealand's most successful international bowlers, has been the mentor for Grantham.
"Rowan's been my idol since I started playing bowls," he said.
"He told me that it was all about being consistent and getting the bowl as close as possible to the white."
