Michael Campbell's hopes of repeating his 2005 triumph at the US Open lay in pieces yesterday after he dropped three shots in the opening five holes of his first round at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland.
Campbell ended with a four-over 75 and his round was littered with six birdies and two bogeys.
The 42-year-old Kiwi bogeyed the first, fourth and fifth holes, before grabbing a shot back at the par 5 sixth.
He turned three over par after dropping another shot at the ninth and got his back nine off to a poor start with a four on the par 3 10th.
Another bogey at the 15th left him five over par before he picked up a shot on the par 5 16th.
He was in good company on 75, with world No 2 Lee Westwood and the top US player Steve Stricker, who also had four-over par rounds.
Many other early finishers were well into red figures on the long, unforgiving layout in Bethesda, Maryland.
- NZPA
Golf: Campbell starts with a slump
Michael Campbell. Photo / Brett Phibbs
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