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Campbell on song in Shenzhen

09/11/2006

Michael Campbell rediscovered his top form at the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shenzhen to shoot an opening-round 66 to sit just one stroke off Indian ace Jyoti Randhawa's early pace.

New Zealander Campbell, who has slipped down the world rankings this season to 24th, fired six birdies in a brilliant unblemished round.

Marc Warren of Scotland also reached six-under-par after he carded six birdies in a perfect outward nine of 30 before adding two more only for a pair of bogeys on the 13th and 15th to deprive him of the clubhouse lead.

European Order of Merit holder Padraig Harrington continued his storming momentum into day one as he hit a promising five-under-par 67 to share fifth place.

Colin Montgomerie closed two shots further back on three under with Luke Donald another shot behind in tied 15th place.

World number one Tiger Woods is back playing this week following his well-documented time off but he showed slight signs of rustiness en route to an opening round of level par.

"I was right there in a position to get to four under,' Woods said. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way - it went the other way - and I left myself an awful lot of work with three days to go.'

Jim Furyk, second in the rankings behind the indomitable Woods, made a slow start in Shanghai by firing a one-over-par 73, a score matched by English pair David Howell and Paul Casey who are both still coming to terms with missing out on the European number one slot.

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