Harrington happy but Campbell lets Majors record slip

Chad Campbell allowed a piece of golf history escape from his grasp when The Masters began at an unusually friendly Augusta National today.

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.

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 compatriot 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.

As a tournament record 38 players broke par Padraig Harrington was happy enough with 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.

He will not consider that mission impossible, though. He was five behind after an opening 74 at Royal Birkdale last July.

Fit-again Tiger Woods, seeking his fifth green jacket and 15th major, has five to make up following a two under 70.

Woods was only level par after 12, then had three birdies in a row, but after missing an chance for another on the 17th bogeyed the last, going over the green and sending his chip racing past the cup.

"I let a couple of shots slip away," he said, "But I was happy with how I hit the ball.

"The guys were tearing the place apart and you could definitely go get it. I didn't make anything the first eight holes, but I hung in there."

Phil Mickelson fared worse. With a chance to take the world No. 1 ranking off his great rival this weekend he managed only a 73, as did third-ranked Sergio Garcia, while in the last group of the day Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy shot 72 with two birdies, two bogeys and a great par-saving putt on the last.

Campbell, halfway leader three years ago, started in Masters-record fashion with five successive birdies and then picked up more four more in a row from the 12th.

"I thought about 63 - it's hard not to and the fans did a good job of reminding me!" he said. "I'm a little upset with the way I finished.

"You definitely never want to finish the round with two bogeys. Kind of leaves a little bit of a sour taste in your mouth."

Mahan's round even included a double bogey six on the 11th. He had had five birdies to that point, though, and had four more in succession from the 13th.

Furyk, the only player not to register a bogey, had four birdies in a row himself from the 14th.

Harrington, doing a brilliant job of handling all the pressure on him, was joint top European with McIlroy's compatriot Graeme McDowell and England's Ross Fisher.

The two debutants both reached five under, but much to their annoyance emulated Campbell with closing back-to-back bogeys.

Three under after 14 Harrington ran up a bogey six on the long 15th - a hole which has got the better of him several times in the past, including an eight in the last round two years ago.

He laid up short of the water, but then pitched over and failed to get up and down.

However, Harrington came back with a birdie on the next and after just missing another at 18 commented: "That was definitely one of the more generous days ever here.

"Thursday is all about staying in the tournament and I would have taken my score before I started, but you've got to feel it's going to get tougher.

"At some stage I really expect a course that's really difficult, right to the limit."

Fisher is playing only the fifth major of his career, but has already made his mark in the United States this season with a fourth place finish in the World Golf Championships-Match Play in Arizona.

"I've been dreaming about playing in The Masters for such as a long time and it's an absolute pleasure to be out there.

"The finish was disappointing, but if you score 69 at Augusta National you're obviously doing something right.

"I'm going to cherish every moment this week, but at the same time I'm here to do a job and have come with a feeling that I have a chance of winning."

Lee Westwood, Bernhard Langer and Miguel Angel Jimenez returned 70s - and so did 54-year-old Greg Norman as he returned to the event after a seven-year gap courtesy of his third place finish in last July's Open at Birkdale.

Ian Poulter was round in 71 and Sunday's Houston Open winner Paul Casey stood level par alongside Sandy Lyle, but Justin Rose, incredibly the leader after the first day on his last three visits to the course, came nowhere near doing the same.

Double bogeys at the 11th, 12th and 17th contributed to a 74 matched by Ian Woosnam, while Luke Donald eagled the 15th, but had turned in 40 and finished with a 73, the same as former Augusta college player Oliver Wilson.

As one Campbell led New Zealand namesake Michael was last after an eight over 80. Even Gary Player at 73 in his record 52nd and last Masters shot two better than that.