By Grant Abston, Sports Editor
While watching the final round of the Masters Golf Tournament, it might have been surprising to see an ACU golf shirt and hat flash across the screen during the first playoff hole between Chad Campbell, Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry.
But for ACU fans, it was a familiar face as head golf coach Mike Campbell watched intently as his younger brother Chad lined up for a putt on 18 to force another playoff hole. Chad’s 6-foot par putt just missed, and he was forced to watch as Cabrera defeated Perry in the second playoff hole; however, Mike witnessed Chad’s best Masters’ finish in six tries and made some memories along the way.
“I’ve gone every year,” Mike said. “[Chad] rents a house for the week, and in the past, his caddie, me and one of his junior college teammates stay, and it’s been the four of us, but our parents came down this year, so there was six of us.”
Chad matched his career-best finish at a major tournament after finishing second at the 2003 PGA Championship. In 2006, Chad actually was atop the leader board for two rounds at the Masters before finishing tied for third. But this time was different – Chad opened the tournament with five birdies, establishing a Masters’ record, and was the leader for the first two rounds after shooting an opening round of 65 before a second-round 72.
After falling behind by two strokes entering Sunday’s final round, Chad joined Perry and Cabrera in a playoff after Perry scored a bogie on No. 18. But Perry and Cabrera both recorded par on the first playoff hole, while Chad recorded a bogie to end his run.
“Me and Chad watched it every year on TV growing up and we have some special memories,” Mike said. “To have your name on the leader board is cool, and to play as well as he did was very exciting, and I’m very proud of him.”
But despite getting to watch his brother just miss a win at the Masters, Mike took a few special memories away, including an autograph from his favorite player growing up. In Wednesday’s par three tournament, Chad was paired with Tom Watson, a two-time Masters winner, eight-time majors tournament winner and one of Mike’s all-time favorites.
“I got to meet him and get his autograph and say, ‘hello,’ so that was something I will never forget,” Mike said. “Chad actually got me a signed golf ball from him, and I got my hat signed. It was my two favorite golfers – Chad’s No. 1 and Tom’s No. 2, so that was pretty cool.”
Mike also got another souvenir as Chad’s caddie tossed Mike the golf ball Chad used to birdie the first five holes, establishing a Masters’ record.
“Walking from the No. 8 green to the No. 9 tee box, you can get pretty close,” Mike said. “[Chad’s] caddie Judd said, ‘Hey Mike,’ and throws the golf ball that he made five birdies with to me. A lot of fans turned to look, but that was cool, and I have that golf ball at my house.”
Despite being Chad’s brother, Mike was able to follow Chad around relatively unnoticed all week, taking in the atmosphere and enjoying Chad’s run atop the leaderboard.
“I kind of walked by myself and talked to friends and everything, but going along it was kind of me, and that’s how I like to do it,” Campbell said. “On 18, I got to come inside the gallery ropes up by the gallery tent and I watched the playoff with Amy, his wife, and our parents and his agent.”
But despite watching his brother just miss a first-place finish, Mike returned to ACU after an exciting weekend, getting to witness his brother set records as well as an opportunity to meet one of his idols.
“I could tell he was disappointed, which is natural, but we were very pleased with the way he played,” Mike said. “He can take a lot of positives away from the experience, and we are proud because he played awesome.”
