Defending champion Campbell using LINK Hong Kong Open glory as springboard to rankings charge
Reigning LINK Hong Kong Open champion Ben Campbell is using his Asian Tour victory at Fanling last year to fuel his charge for glory on The International Series this season, as he bids to chase down rankings leader John Catlin and claim the lucrative LIV Golf League spot.
Campbell sits second on the rankings after a stunning play-off win over Catlin at International Series Morocco, and has six elevated Asian Tour events in a hectic eight-week run - including the defence of his title at this year’s LINK Hong Kong Open from 21-24 November – to overhaul his American rival.
He said: “I have been playing well this year, and I am looking forward to battling it out with John for The International Series title - to get that spot on LIV Golf.
“I was playing some great golf last year, leading up to the Hong Kong Open, and then obviously to win that really gave me a lot of confidence. It really helped me kick on this year. And I have been playing well this year.
“I have always loved Hong Kong Golf Club and to get my first Asian Tour title there was amazing. To play so well and to get the win like that, and to do it around the golf course, when in a tournament with so much history, was awesome.”
Campbell’s famous Fanling win last season came thanks to back-to-back birdies on the last two holes which edged him in front of 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith and into the lead for the first time with his final putt of the day.
His victory over International Series Macau presented by Wynn champion Catlin in Morocco back in July was an even bigger smash-and-grab raid.
From three down with two to play, an eagle-birdie finish hauled him back to level on the final hole, forcing a play-off. Campbell then completed a sensational victory with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole at Royal Dar Es Salam.
Both victories on The International Series were richly deserved for a golfer who had to remodel his swing after time out of the game with back and hip problems.
Campbell also recorded four T10 finishes last season, including a T3 at the season-ending BNI Indonesian Masters, the last of 10 events on the 2023 season of The International Series.
That form earned a place in the top eight of The International Series Rankings, giving him an automatic entry to the second round of the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi.
There, Campbell was on the wrong side of a play-off as he agonisingly fell short of a place in the 20-man field battling it out over 36 holes on the final day for three golden tickets onto the 2024 LIV Golf roster.
He still impressed enough to be offered the chance to gain invaluable experience as an alternate on the LIV Golf League this season, along with Catlin and Australian Wade Ormsby.
After enjoying a season with the LIV Golf circuit, Campbell has made no secret of the fact that he wants to return there next year via the pathway that The International Series offers the end-of-season rankings champion.
He said: “The International Series has been great. For the Asian Tour, it has been great having that pathway through to LIV. Obviously, there is so much to play for and The International Series events just seem to be getting better and better. The events are run so well, and we have had the tournaments around some incredible, really world class golf courses.”
