Golf: Campbell falters but Brown at 71

New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell failed to impress in his opening round in the Irish Open at Baltray yesterday with a four over 76 but Kiwi Mark Brown remains in contention with 71.

Campbell's 76 trails 13 shots behind Italian leader Francesco Molinari, who lowered the course record by a stroke in carding a nine under 63.

Brown's 71, a product of five birdies and four bogeys, leaves him in a tie for 63rd.

Playing in front of 20,000 spectators who turned out despite wet conditions, Campbell managed two birdies but also six bogeys in the first round, which left him in a tie for 141st.

Campbell, who won the tournament at Portmarnock in 2003, began the round with a second hole birdie but then dropped shots at the fourth and fifth holes.

He went on to birdie the sixth but dropped three shots in succession from the par-four 11th, before ending with a closing hole bogey.

Despite being 13 strokes behind the leader the former US Open champion was upbeat after his round.

"It was pretty tough out there today and pure links golf," said Campbell.

"It was wet, a bit cold but fortunately not too windy but it's just nice to play 18 holes after having to withdraw last week from The Players."

Campbell has been troubled by an injury to his right shoulder for the past seven months, and was forced to withdraw from last week's Players' Championship in Florida after playing just nine holes because of the injury.

"It's been pretty frustrating the last couple of months but I am doing my best to just hang in there, and it's just a matter of continuing to stay patient," he said.

"We got the worst of the conditions compared to those who were out this morning and though a 76 is not that great, hopefully it's my poor round for the week."

- NZPA