Campbell misses record but finishes on top after first day
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - Once considered the PGA Tour's next big thing, Chad Campbell finally looked the part on Thursday, opening the U.S. Masters with a record five successive birdies to help propel him to the top of the leaderboard.
Later, the Texan was also eyeing a record on the back nine of Augusta National after a four consecutive birdies put him within reach of the lowest score at a major championship.
But while back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th prevented Campbell from becoming the 24th player to record a 63 in a major it did not stop the 34-year-old from taking the first round lead returning an opening round seven-under 65.
"I obviously have not done as much as I would like to since I've been on tour but I'm only 34," Campbell told reporters. "I have a little ways to go, so hopefully I can win a few more times before I'm done."
His late stumble left him with a one-shot lead over compatriots Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan and no margin for error going into Saturday's second round.
"Obviously happy that I'm in the lead, but definitely never want to finish the round with two bogeys," Campbell said.
"Kind of leaves a little bit of a sour taste in your mouth.
"I still feel like I'm playing well, and just kind of keep it going. There's a lot of golf to be played."
Nick Price, in 1986, and Greg Norman, in 1996, have shot the only 63s at the Masters.
Campbell looked poised to make it a threesome after reeling off four birdies from the 12th before finding a bunker with his approach on 17 and three-putting the 18th green.
"I was pretty excited," admitted Campbell, who has made five visits to Augusta, missing the cut three times but finishing in a tie for third in 2006.
"I was trying to hit good golf shots to try to give myself as many opportunities as I could.
"All I'm trying to do out there is hit one shot at a time.
"I know it's kind of cliche, but it's really all you can do, especially out here.
"You get one bad shot and you're behind the eight ball.
"There were some birdies to be made out there, but if you hit a couple of bad shots, you can make bogeys out there as well."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
