Looking back on your win at Pinehurst, what first comes to mind?

I had missed five or six cuts in a row earlier that year. But I found what I called my “golden nugget” in my swing. I ran with that. And in the US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath I holed a 10-foot putt on the 18th green to get in on the number. Then I played well before Pinehurst. I was up there in a few events, so I arrived playing well.

Pinehurst isn’t too long, but it is demanding. The run-offs make the greens play small. But my iron play that week was phenomenal. Here’s the thing about that. After two practice rounds I noticed that I was averaging 10 7-iron to 5-iron approaches. A 6-iron for me was about 188-yards. So on the range I hit a lot of 7-, 6- and 5-irons. I had those yardages covered. And I putted great of course. I had 11 putts in the last 10 holes in the final round.

All of which was a huge contrast to when I first got to Pinehurst. I had no expectations of doing well, never mind winning. I was actually working with a belly putter on the Monday. But there wasn’t one hole that didn’t suit my eye. I was comfortable and relaxed the whole week. I was hitting a lot of fairways and greens. And a long Wednesday session on the practice green at Pine Needles with my coach, Jonathan Yarwood, sorted my putting.

One more thing made the difference. I played a practice round with Vijay Singh. My bunker play was terrible. My shots were coming out with no spin. So he gave me a lesson. And over the four rounds I got up and down six times and holed-out once. Now I wish I could remember what he told me (laughs).

The best part of it all was that it came down to me and Tiger. He was playing ahead of me in the final round so I was able to watch and listen to what he was doing. I loved that I was matching him shot for shot. I’m still proud of how I handled the pressure.

You had an interesting meeting with Tiger in the toilets once it was all over didn’t you?

I did (laughs). I was washing my face after signing my card. I was a bit overwhelmed and I was feeling a bit emotional.

He came out of a cubicle and was washing his hands at the next sink. He didn’t say anything. Then he walked away. That struck me as odd. We weren’t great mates. But we had played together a few times. So we knew each other.

A few seconds later he was back though. “Well done Michael,” he said. That was nice, to get that acknowledgement.

Campbell with the US Open trophy in front of the Wellington Town Hall. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Your win had a big impact in New Zealand.

Massive. Parliament was stopped. Helen Clark was Prime Minister at the time and she was the first person to call me. I spoke to my parents after her. So it was big. The one thing I wanted to do as a kid was to be an All Black. And my win knocked them off the back and front pages. That was big for me. I got so many amazing messages from fans too.

Growing up, did your Maori background make things harder for you within New Zealand golf?

Absolutely. There was a bit of discrimination. In the 1980s, it was very unusual for a young Maori kid to play golf. On my first day at college when I was 13, the teacher asked everyone what they wanted to do when they grew up. There were all the usual answers. Doctor. Plumber. Nurse. When it came to me, I said “golf professional.” Everyone laughed at me.

I’ve never forgotten that moment. Back then, golf was viewed as a wealthy, old man’s sport. Not so much now.

Would a Caucasian kid have been laughed at the same way?

Absolutely not. That moment was a huge motivation for me. Even friends of mine – and some family members – told me they thought golf wasn’t really for me. That was the Maori culture. If you are in the community, you will be looked after. But if you think outside the box, you’re on your own. But I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to prove that Maoris can play golf. And win majors. That was my answer to “why?”

So, being Maori is definitely one of my strengths. And one of my motivations too. It has given me a purpose. It’s the reason I’m on this planet.

Have you made a difference?

Yes. I see a few more Maori kids playing golf now, which is fantastic. But it’s always been important to me to pass on my knowledge and experience to all young kids at home, not just Maoris.

Then again, you do have some Scottish blood in you too. How many “greats’ is that before we get to Logan Campbell, who made his way to New Zealand from Scotland?

Four. He came over in 1845 from Edinburgh and became Mayor of Auckland. He had a few partners (laughs). One Tree Hill is dedicated to him.

My dad and I actually visited Logan Campbell’s home in Scotland. It was maybe a two-hour drive north of Loch Lomond, where I was playing in the Scottish Open. We knocked on the door and the owner - a big burly Scotsman - invited us in for a cup of tea. It gave my dad and I a bit of closure I think.