HILTON HEAD - New Zealander Michael Campbell was planning his three-week break after a one-over start to the Worldcom golf classic in South Carolina yesterday.
Campbell carded a 72 to end the opening round of the $US3.5 million ($8.75 million) tournament seven strokes behind the leading trio of Fijian Vijay Singh
and Americans Billy Mayfair and Doug Dunakey.
Singh handed over the green jacket to Tiger Woods last Sunday at the US Masters, but quickly eased his way into contention for his third victory this year with six birdies.
Dunakey, a former part-time Australasian Tour player, gained headlines nearly three years ago when he recorded a 59 during the Miami Valley Open on the secondary Nike Tour.
Nine players are tied in fourth place at five under.
Fellow New Zealander Frank Nobilo, who is based in Orlando, ended his first round tied with Campbell in a distant share of 79th place.
Palmerston North's Craig Perks is one stroke behind on 73.
Campbell, who is competing at Hilton Head for the second time, bogeyed the opening hole, the 10th on the card, before levelling with a birdie at the second.
He then parred the next 11 holes before holing a two-metre birdie putt, at the par-five fifth hole.
He dropped a second shot at the 17th before parring the last.
"I'm not really enjoying my golf right now, Campbell said.
"I haven't had a decent break since last December and I am already looking forward to a three-week break."
Nobilo parred his opening five holes, birdied the sixth, parred the seventh, but dropped a shot at the eighth before then parring the next eight. He ended his round with a bogey at the 17th and a last-hole par.
Perks, contesting his eighth US Tour event this year, added three birdies to his scorecard, but undid his work with a bogey and two double bogeys.
- NZPA
