Queenstown golf pro Ben Campbell pocketed just over $15,000 after finishing tied for 43rd at the Oman International Series in Muscat, Oman.
Part of the Asian Tour, Campbell, 31, finished 15 shots off the winner and five over par, with rounds of 72, 75, 72 and 74.
It was his first tournament following an unwelcome layoff due to a bulged disc in his back, dating back to four weeks before last year’s British Open, which he played, despite the injury.
‘‘It took a long time to get it sorted,’’ Campbell says.
‘‘I had a good hitout at The Hills Pro-Am in December, then in early January had nerve ablation surgery on my SI [sacroiliac] joint.’’
Less than a fortnight out from the New Zealand Open, in which he’ll be playing, Campbell says it’s great to be back ‘‘swinging the club’’.
He played in last week’s Qatar International Series event, at Doha Golf Club, before heading back to Queenstown for the NZ Open, now part of the Asian Tour.
Asked if LIV Golf’s involvement had benefits for the Asian Tour, Campbell says the purses are ‘‘a lot better’’ and it’s now a pathway to the LIV Tour — ‘‘if I qualified I would definitely play on it’’.
