U.S. Masters golf..
… Woods recovers after slow start
AUGUSTA, Georgia, (Reuters) – American Chad Campbell raised hopes of the lowest score at a major championship before a faltering finish gave him a one-shot lead in the U.S. Masters golf first round yesterday.

Nine under par with two holes to play on a vulnerable Augusta National layout, Campbell bogeyed 17 and 18 for a seven-under 65.

That put him a stroke in front of fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan, who bogeyed the last on a glorious spring day that contained hardly a breath of wind.

While four-times winner Tiger Woods began to recover after initially failing to make the most of the favourable conditions, Campbell led a glut of low scores on a course trimmed by 10 yards since last year.

With several tees pushed forward on a layout measuring 7,435 yards, the Texan set a Masters record by starting with five consecutive birdies.

Out in five-under 31, Campbell reeled off four birdies in a row from the 12th before finding a bunker with his approach on 17 and three-putting the 18th green.

A par-par finish would have earned the 34-year-old the 24th 63 recorded in a major.

Former U.S. Open champion Furyk was delighted after carding a flawless six-birdie 66 in the opening major of the season.

“I hit a lot of really good iron shots and kept the ball in play with my driver,” the former world number two told reporters after shooting his lowest round at Augusta in his 13th appearance.

CLOSE SHOTS
“I made enough putts but I hit a lot of really close shots on that back nine. I had two birdie putts inside three feet and I knocked it pretty close on 16.

“I didn’t have to knock in a bunch of bombs or anything to shoot the score I did.”

World number one Woods, bidding for his 15th major title, parred the first five holes before running up a bogey at the 180-yard sixth.

A superb approach to three feet set up his first birdie at the par-four ninth and he picked up further shots at 13, 14 and 15 to get to three under.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington opened with a 69, twice winner Phil Mickelson shot a 73 and South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen carded matching 75s.

Irishman Harrington, bidding for a rare third consecutive major victory, was happy with his round.

“I could have shot a couple better but that is kind of irrelevant when it comes to 72 holes,” the 37-year-old said. “We all know things will get a little tighter towards the end of the week.

“Today was definitely one of the more generous days ever around Augusta and you’ve got to feel it’s going to get a little bit tougher as we go on the next three days.”