KEY POINTS:
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands - Japan's Taichi Teshima and France's Jean-Baptiste Gonnet shared the Dutch Open first-round lead on Friday (NZ time) after equalling the Kennemer course record of six-under 64.
New Zealander Michael Campbell was among a group one stroke off the lead, a day after the 2005 US Open champion admitted he had lost his way after beating Tiger Woods in the major and had decided it was time to spur himself into action again.
A run of six birdies in eight holes from the eighth showed Campbell's intent as he put a new driver to good use.
"I only missed one fairway all day, I found the driver stable and it was one of the reasons I played well," Campbell told a news conference.
His other reason was to use Bernhard Langer's former caddie Pete Coleman this week.
"My regular caddie is in Australia," Campbell said. "Pete's been great, he's been caddying for over 30 years and has 57 wins and two majors (with Langer) and knows what he's talking about."
Rookie Teshima, battling to keep his card, set the target in the morning, equalling his score in the Italian Open earlier in the season.
Teshima, who has won five times on the Japanese tour, missed the cut in Milan by following up his eight-under return with a 77 and he is aiming to put that right as he tries to ensure a card for next year from his current 146th place on the European money-list.
"I thought I could do better but I've missed too many cuts, which is something I didn't do in Japan," Teshima told a news conference.
"I am determined to make my card, but I know I have to play well in every tournament I have left, to do that."
Gonnet was happy to secure his card for next year with a joint runner-up spot in last week's Scandinavian Masters and now wants to raise his sights.
"I was very relaxed knowing I now have my card in my pocket," he told reporters. "My goal is now to get a victory."
Campbell was in a large group that included former Ryder Cup Briton Andrew Coltart.
Coltart's run of seven successive birdies on the back to equal the European Tour nine-hole record of 27 shots ended another poor run by the 1999 Ryder Cup man, who has missed his last seven cuts.
While Langer, who will be eligible for seniors golf on Monday when he turns 50, carded a 67, his 17-year-old son Stefan's European Tour debut proved calamitous when he shot a 98 with a 12 on his card, the tour's third-worst score.
- REUTERS
