Campbell’s Portable Support System
By Doug Milne
An old saying asserts that behind every great man is a great woman.
Lending support to that claim is Kelsi McKee, the longtime girlfriend of PGA Tour player and 2015 University of Illinois grad, Brian Campbell.
When the third round of this week’s John Deere Classic came to an end, Carroll had positioned himself within just one stroke of the lead – after shooting a 3-under 68 – headed into the final round at 14-under 199. Certainly, a great game behind Campbell is largely credited for that. But it’s McKee who helps her great man maintain that game.
A solid player herself, the Texas A&M grad made an unlikely connection with Campbell. The use of unlikely is a result of her having been living and working as a writer in Boston after college, while Campbell was based out of Irvine, California. The two had never met.
“I actually knew about him while he was in school because of how good of a golfer he was,” Kelsi said.
Interestingly, it was Instagram that gets credited for the two connecting.
“We had some mutual connections, and he started following me on Instagram,” she said. “I had been posting golf swing videos and he ‘liked’ a few of my posts. I slipped him a direct message. So, for about six months, we were just messaging back and forth as friends.”
That was in June 2019.
In November of that same year, Campbell suggested meeting up for a date in Boston, which worked out. The two have been together since.
McKee, who owns her own copywriting business, is able to be on the road with him most weeks given the remote nature of her company.
The combination of the chemistry between the couple and Brian’s remarkable game resulted in his first career win on the PGA Tour earlier this season at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld in Puerto Vallarta.
“As a former golfer myself, seeing all the success he’s having is a dream come true,” she said. “For him to achieve his dream by winning has been amazing. It came with an invitation to the Masters. We used to dream of just going to Augusta as spectators. So, for him to actually play in the Masters was very surreal.”
Being a large part of Brian’s foundation, she felt confident a win for Brian wasn’t a question of if, but when.
“It was just a matter of time for him to win on Tour,” she said. “He played great on the Korn Ferry Tour last year, so it really was just a matter of time. He’s just making magic happen.”
“It’s awesome to have someone like Kelsi in my corner,” Campbell said. “She has been there through all the lows and highs. So, I can honestly say that I couldn’t have done it without her.”
While he clearly has a good read on a great game, the great woman in his life only makes that game stronger.
“I not only love watching him play, but also being his sounding board,” Kelsi said. “If he has any thoughts or ideas, he can just run them by me and then I offer my thoughts.”
As a former player herself, Kelsi goes the distance to keep him both focused and entertained.
“I help keep his game sharp by continuing to play myself. I try to take a little of his money now and then,” she laughed. “But the strongest part of his game is definitely his short game. He is just magical around the greens.”
Campbell is making his 17th start of the season this week at the John Deere Classic. Since his win in Mexico in late February, he has been unable to crack the top 25. But, according to Kelsi, in addition to a game good enough to win on Tour, his remarkable attitude stands as his sweetest spot.
“His mental game is so strong,” Kelsi said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him slam or throw a club. He’s always in the zone. When he hits a bad shot, it’s water off his back. I never worry about a bogey or worse, because once he’s on the next tee, it’s like a new day. He forgets about what’s past and focuses instead on what’s in front of him.”
Perhaps, but Campbell does take confidence from his past which includes three runner-up finishes on last season’s Korn Ferry Tour. As a result, Campbell finished No. 7 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, paving the way to what was then “in front of him;” PGA Tour membership.
And, while Augusta and the Masters is, well, Augusta and the Masters, Brian and Kelsi also hold TPC Deere Run and the John Deere Classic in very high regard.
“We try to come back here to TPC Deere Run as often as possible,” Kelsi said. “We’re going to try and make it more often. He loves coach Small. It’s important for him to stay in touch with him.”
Brian also places a high priority on remaining close to the University of Illinois golf team, for it was that outlet which helped him achieve success. The support from the team is equally impressive.
“This is really special,” Brian said. “The crowd support out here is mind-blowing. People are shouting ‘I-L-L’, there are so many alumni here and it’s just so cool to be back.”
“The Illini support is amazing, unreal,” Kelsi said. “The fans just love to support the team, and the team is one of the best in the country, especially his graduating class because there were so many players from his team that made it onto the Tour. So, it has been great. I’ve met so many new people. They’re all out here to support Brian, so it’s just really cool.”
Kelsi and Brian currently live in South Carolina, where both sets of parents have migrated to. The couple, though, is poised to move to Jacksonville in the fall to be closer to more players and TPC Sawgrass.
Brian will tee off in Sunday’s final round just one stroke off the lead. When he does, a great woman behind him will remain right there by his side.