Golf: Campbell two off pace after superb 66

PORTMARNOCK - Michael Campbell shot his lowest round on the European Tour in 10 months as he finished in second place on the opening day of the Irish Open yesterday.

Campbell holed a superb nine-metre birdie putt at the final hole in a round of six-under 66 to trail Thomas Bjorn, his Danish playing partner, by two strokes.

Bjorn buried his Royal St George's nightmare after carding a Portmarnock course record of eight-under 64.

It came just four days after he virtually forfeited the British Open to little-known American Ben Curtis.

Of the other New Zealanders yesterday, Greg Turner birdied two of his closing four holes in a round of 71 while Stephen Scahill started and ended with a bogey in a round of 72.

Campbell's score was his lowest European Tour round since he signed for a closing-round 64 to finish ninth behind Tiger Woods in last September's World Golf Championship in Kilkenny, Ireland.

"I don't know what it is about Ireland that brings out the best in me - must be all the Guinness I had," Campbell joked.

At the start of this season Campbell chose to compete fulltime in the United States, but in 15 rounds there he failed to break par once.

Three weeks ago he announced he would return to the European Tour permanently.

"It's just so nice to get off to a good start for a change, and it was a lot easier to come out and play today after all the hype last week with the British Open."

- NZPA