Golf: Birdie drought for Campbell

STRAFFAN, Ireland - A day after recording 10 birdies in the pro-am, New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell could manage just three on the opening day of the European Open in Ireland.

Campbell carded an even-par 72 on the K Club course just south of Dublin to end the first round seven shots behind Welshman Bradley Dredge who heads the event on seven-under-par.

Reigning New Zealand Open champion Niclas Fasth of Sweden and England's in-form Paul Casey are next best on six-under-par while three players -- Australia's Peter O'Malley, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and Welshman Stephen Dodd are locked on five under.

Campbell contested the pro-am on Wednesday in the company of Ireland rugby great Keith Wood and looked extremely impressive by posting nine birdies in his opening 12 holes including seven in succession for an eventual tally of 10 birdies.

But any hope the former US Open champion had of duplicating that effort was jolted when Campbell bogeyed the opening hole and then recorded eight straight pars before birdies at the 10th and 12th holes.

Campbell dropped a second shot of the round at the par five 13th prior to ending with five pars.

"Golf is amazing game as I played fantastic golf in the pro-am and felt as though I was seeing the hole as big as a bucket as I had seven birdies in a row at one stage," he said.

"So I stepped onto the first tee naturally feeling pretty confident of repeating that effort but the birdies just didn't materialise.

"It's just one of those things that happens in golf and I am not too disappointed.

"The big plus is my decision to swap putters and even though I couldn't match today the number of birdies I had in the pro-am, I am just hitting the ball so much better on the greens.

"I just feel my putting is getting better with every round and that's a good sign heading into the British Open in two weeks time."

Campbell, who won the event in 2002, will commence the second round in a share of 58th place.

- NZPA