Golf: Campbell's storming run continues in Germany

HEIDELBERG - Having an even longer wait to play than the day before only improved the rate at which New Zealand's Michael Campbell collected birdies on the St Leon Rot course.

Yesterday, after a torrential rainstorm, Campbell was delayed for seven hours but produced a 10-under 62.

Today, it was catch-up day at the $US2.5 million ($NZ5.93 million) Deutsche Bank SAP Open and Campbell had to wait for the half of the field who had not played on Friday to complete their first and second rounds.

It was the cocktail hour, when Campbell teed off, still at the top of the leaderboard.

He surged further ahead with birdies on four of the first five holes. Even with a bogey at the ninth he was out in 32, and pars followed at the 10th and 11th to leave the New Zealander at 14-under par with seven holes of his second round to complete tonight (NZT).

Campbell was five ahead of Eduardo Romero, who had played 10 holes, with South African Ernie Els and Britain's Greg Owen one further back.

The overnight clubhouse lead was held by Sweden's Mathias Gronberg and Dean Robertson of Scotland at seven-under par.

Els, with eight holes still to come, decided to play on after hearing of the death of his maternal grandmother.

He will travel to South Africa at the end of this tournament for the funeral and return in time for the start of the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth next weekend.

Owen, still to play seven holes, is without a tour win but he upstaged fellow Englishman Lee Westwood, the defending champion.

World number four Westwood dropped a shot on the 10th, just before the hooter went in the gathering gloom to bring in the players, to join a large group on seven-under-par, with eight still to play.

Campbell won the Johnnie Walker Classic 18 months ago when Tiger Woods was in the field and now has a chance to claim a second victory over the world No 1.

Despite an eagle and a birdie, Woods was left at five under, nine behind the leader, after 11 holes.

For a second day, he insisted on encroaching press photographers being moved early in his round before he played his shot.

Ian Woosnam finished 18 strokes ahead of Seve Ballesteros after 36 holes in one day.

Woosnam could not keep up the pace from his opening effort of 66 but a 72 left the Welshman at six-under.

It was a noble effort from the 43-year-old and in a different class to the 12-over tally of Ballesteros, whose woes have meant that the former Open and Masters champion has fallen outside the world's leading 1,100 players.

The third member of the group, Jose Maria Olazabal, scored 70 and 71 to be three-under.

New Zealand's Greg Turner lies at two under and Stephen Scahill is on even par. Elliot Boult finished on 12-over after completing his second round.

Seventy-seven of the 153 field still have to complete their second rounds.

- INDEPENDENT and REUTERS