Chad Campbell allowed a piece of golf history escape from his grasp when The Masters began at an unusually friendly Augusta National this morning.
Chad Campbell allowed a piece of golf history escape from his grasp when The Masters began at an unusually friendly Augusta National this morning.
The on-fire American was a magical nine under par with three holes to play, meaning one more birdie and two pars would have made him the first man ever to score 62 in any of the sport's four biggest events.
|
Chad Campbell tips his cap after finishing his first round at the Augusta Masters golf tournament this morning. Pic/AP |
Even three pars would have matched the course record and put him alongside 20 other players who have achieved 63 since Johnny Miller first set the mark at the 1973 United States Open.
However, the 34-year-old Texan found sand on the 17th and 18th, bogeyed them both and with a 65 led on his own only because Hunter Mahan bogeyed the last as well.
Jim Furyk, yet another member of Paul Azinger's victorious Ryder Cup side last September, also shot 66 for a share of second spot overnight.
Padraig Harrington got a 69 that put him tied 14th, but to win a third successive major the Open and US PGA champion will have to come from four back. Phil Mickelson fared worse. He managed only a 73, as did third-ranked Sergio Garcia, in the last group of the day
Meanwhile Jeev...India's Jeev Milkha Singh finished one under par for a round of 71u00a0six strokes off the leader and one stroke behind Tiger Woods.