Golf: Campbell bags five birdies in row

12.00pm

CARNOUSTIE, Scotland - Michael Campbell calmed a windswept Carnoustie course in superb manner with five early birdies in succession on the opening day of the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Campbell carded a four under par 68 on the 1999 British Open host venue to end the first day just two strokes from the lead.

Scotland's Simon Yates, Denmark's Soren Hansen and Ireland's Gary Murphy head the field at six under par and a stroke clear of four players including Darren Clarke.

Yates and Hansen were out on the famous Old Course at St Andrews whilst Murphy joined Campbell some 30 minutes drive away at Carnoustie.

Campbell was delighted in continuing the form that earned him a recent runners-up position in Switzerland and a further top 10 result last week in the German Masters.

"It was a tough, cold and windy day but the low ball striking you have to play on these links courses suits my game," he said.

"It was nice to get off to five birdies in six holes and nice to get this round under my belt because Carnoustie is the hardest of the three venues we will play.

"I am feeling good about my game and technically I am going out there with no indecision which is nice.

"I did leave a few putts out there that should have dropped but, as I said, I'm pleased to get Carnoustie out of the way and I'm looking forward now to playing at St Andrews and then Kingsbarns on Saturday before coming back to St Andrews for the last round on Saturday."

- NZPA