What was unusually surprising, though, was the way Campbell found his way to North Carolina to claim the biggest victory of his career.

Campbell would not have even played, let alone win, if the United States Golf Association had not decided to hold sectional qualifiers in England and Japan for the first time this year. As it turned out, Campbell was one of nine qualifiers in the 36-hole sectional in Surrey, England, for players on the European Tour.

"It's highly unlikely he would have traveled all the way to the States for a qualifier," said USGA Executive Director David Fay in an e-mail to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Campbell admitted as much in a press conference following his two-stroke victory over Tiger Woods.

"I wouldn't be here with the trophy right now. It's amazing," he said. "The USGA was kind enough to give us nine spots, 3,000 miles away in England. Otherwise I wouldn't have come over. You pay for your plane trip, your accommodations for one day, so the answer is no."

It is exactly why the USGA decided last summer to hold sectional qualifiers in England and Japan for international players, who can't afford to take two weeks out of their schedules for a chance to qualify for the final 80 or so spots available each year for the U.S. Open.

Last year, 130 international golfers, who were exempt for the second-stage qualifying, didn't try to enter any of the sectionals in the United States because of a scheduling inconvenience and the cost of travel for a one-day qualifying.

"We wish to give the skilled international golfers who have earned local exemptions a more convenient geographical opportunity to participate in U.S. Open sectional qualifying," Fay said at the time. "Additionally, overseas qualifiers will no longer need to spend the week in the U.S. between qualifying and the start of the U.S. Open championship."

The decision was a huge success, according to Fay.

"Both (sectionals) were great successes, witness that our champion qualified in England. I can confirm that we plan to return to both Japan and England next year."

The 2006 U.S. Open will be at the Winged Foot Golf Club in New York.

Campbell certainly made the most of the opportunity with his break-through victory, taking advantage of a small window of opportunity to ensure no more lean years such as in the late 1990s, when he injured his left wrist and nearly quit golf after losing his playing privileges on the European and Australasian tours.

"I had no place to play back in 1998," Campbell said. But thanks to several sponsor's exemptions he fought his way back.

Now, the 36-year-old New Zealander is the U.S. Open champion with all of the perks — $1.17 million in prize money, a 10-year exemption to the U.S. Open and five-year exemptions on the PGA Tour and the other three majors.

Don't forget, too, Campbell also qualifies for the first time to play in the 2005 PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Kaua'i in November and the 2006 Mercedes Championships at Kapalua, Maui.

Interestingly, it will be Campbell's first appearance in Hawai'i. He has never played in the Sony Open or the Hawaiian Open at the Waialae Country Club.

Break out into a Maori haka dance if he plays in the 2006 Sony Open in Hawai'i as well.

Campbell's victory elated Kaua'i resident Mary Bea Porter-King, a member of the USGA executive committee, who lobbied mightily to bring a sectional qualifier here two years ago. It's quite a distinction, considering there are only 11 throughout the nation.

"I'm hoping more players from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, if they're exempt for the sectional, will play here," Porter-King said.

"Now with Michael winning and saying, 'If I can do it, anybody can,' the word's getting out. I hope it'll be a plus."

Whether Hawai'i will again host sectional qualifiers for the men's and women's U.S. Open championships next year remains to be seen. It will be open for review in the early fall, according to Fay.

While the reason for Hawai'i's sectional for golfers 3,000 miles away from the other coast is the same — travel costs — Fay said the decision to have international qualifiers in Japan and England had absolutely nothing to do with Hawai'i.

"Hawai'i was never discussed in any context when we were pitching the concept of international qualifying," he said.

Campbell, for one, is glad that the pitch got the OK.