Former US Open Champion Michael Campbell is looking forward to life on the seniors' tour when he becomes eligible in three-years-time.
The 47-year-old has been in the golf wilderness since retiring from the professional ranks in May last year and has only recently picked up a club for the first time since he stepped away from the sport.
"After I retired,for 18 months I didn't pick up a golf club and I loved every single minute," Campbell told Brendan Telfar on RadioLIVE.
Campbell , who is on a fleeting visit to New Zealand for his father's 69th birthday, said he is getting that competitive edge back.
"But now I'm starting to hit a few balls and gradually getting into it again, I'm really looking forward to it.
"I'm looking forward to going out there and seeing my mates and competing, that's one thing I do miss is competing against other players, I miss competing against the best players in the world."
Campbell will have to wait till the ripe-old-age of 50 before he is allowed to compete as a senior but his 2005 US Open victory allows him a two-year exemption onto the Champions Tour without a need to qualify.
He believes that the timing of his retirement has allowed him to be a better father to his two sons and has been invaluable to his mental state.
"I think the timing of what's happened in my career is pretty good, I had been on tour for 20 something years and it does wear you down a little bit, especially when you are not playing very well and dealing with injuries and a divorce so the combination of that wasn't great.
"It has given me time to get away from the game a little bit and reconnect with my sons."
Campbell's US Open win in 2005 was his only success in a major tournament.
Newshub.