Michael Campbell celebrated his US Open call-up by setting a blistering pace in the opening round of the Compass Group English Open with a magnificent 63, nine under par, at the Marriott Forest of Arden to open up a record-breaking six shot lead after one round. That margin is a new European Tour record for the largest 18-hole lead, surpassing the previous best of five strokes set by Seve Ballesteros and Ernie Els.
Ballesteros led by five strokes after the opening round of the 1991 Peugeot Open de Espana and Els after shooting a 61 in the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic.
The chasing group of five players, five shots adrift, contains Lee Westwood, Gary Orr, Peter Mitchell, Mark McNulty and Benoit Teilleria.
Campbell, 31, from New Zealander, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic and Heineken Classic at the start of the 2000 European Tour International Schedule and a further two tournaments on the Australasian Tour, was informed on Wednesday that he had been offered a special exemption to play in the US Open at Pebble Beach.
Instead of taking a holiday in Greece with his family, Campbell will now be playing in his first US Open and he celebrated in style. Starting at the tenth Campbell picked up eight birdies in his round, including five in succession from the 17th, his eighth, and a majestic eagle on the par five seventh. However, his 63 doesn’t count as a course record as preferred lies were in place.
“That was my career best round – best as a professional or an amateur. Nine under in pretty tough conditions, but I remember playing with Colin Montgomerie in this tournament here five years ago and he shot 63 in tougher conditions.
“Getting the call from the USGA was a great boost to my confidence because there are ten other guys ahead of me in the World Rankings who are not exempt.
“After my success Down Under earlier this year I’ve lost my way a little bit. My results are great but I was lacking motivation after winning four times in a short period. You go through down periods and I was going through one but to play alongside great players like Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke makes me feel part of the whole thing again.”
Westwood shot a 69, three under par, without a dropped shot but said: “I played okay. Nothing special I don’t feel in complete control at the moment but I’m not hitting too many destructive shots. I’m getting the odd chance here and there and I’m taking it.
“Michael Campbell’s round was probably as good a round as I have seen in these conditions for a while.”
Orr picked up an eagle and a birdie in the last three holes in his 69 while Mitchell fired four birdies with just one bogey on the 14th when his second shot found the sand. Teilleria, a 27-year-old Frenchman playing his rookie season after graduating from the Challenge Tour, came home in 33 to join the group on 69.
Defending champion Darren Clarke finished on two under par while Colin Montgomerie recovered from an edgy start to finish one under par. He was three over after four and at that stage, 12 shots behind Campbell.
However he birdied three holes in a row from the 15th to
finish strongly. He said: "It was a miserable start but those three birdies have put me right back into contention for second spot!"
It was said in jest, but the entire field now has a tough task to close the gap on the Kiwi. Montgomerie added: "That 63 was very impressive. I've been ahead a few times but never by six shots. Six is unbelievable."
Day 1 Video Highlights
