Golf: Poor finish for Cambo, Bjorn in remarkable comeback

MAYNOOTH - US Open champion Michael Campbell bogeyed two of the last three holes at the Irish Open overnight.

The late slip-ups left the New Zealander five strokes behind leader Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Britain's Paul Casey and Anthony Wall. Campbell is in 21st place on even-par after the third round.

Bjorn continued his remarkable recovery at Carton House, eagling the 18th with a 40-foot putt for a round of five-under-par 67 to move to five-under 211 and share a one-shot lead with Casey (68) and Wall (70).

On Friday morning, completing his weather-disrupted first round, Bjorn slumped to six-over-par after triple-bogeying the same 18th hole where he captured his third-round eagle.

He bounced back with a course record-equalling 66 which left him four strokes off the lead and back in with a chance of claiming his ninth European Tour title.

A flawless round with three birdies before his grandstand finish completed Bjorn's transformation.

"When it starts coming together for two days in a row then you at least know the track you're going down is the right one," Bjorn told reporters.

Casey, with a win and four other top-10 places already this season, led the British Masters last week after three rounds.

But he slipped to fifth place with a double-bogey on the 10th at The Belfry, where he found water, prompting his downfall.

"There's no water on the 10th here, that's great," joked Casey. "I always try and learn something and I hope that was the case last week."

While Casey seeks his seventh European Tour title, Wall, who holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the last, is looking to add to his sole success, the 2000 Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Darren Clarke, another one to change his fortunes after two frustrating rounds, denied himself a share of the lead by missing a 12-inch putt on the last. He shot a 67 to share fourth place with Swede Peter Hedblom and Englishman Ross Fisher.

The Northern Irishman admitted to being more interested in the big screen across the lake from the 18th which was showing the Munster-Biarritz Heineken Cup rugby union final.

Clarke, bidding to be the first Irish winner of the event for 24 years, explained his abberation.

"I was watching the rugby and just went completely blank when I went to tap the ball in," he said.

Padraig Harrington, another player trying to end the Irish winning drought, lies three shots off the lead.

- REUTERS