Campbell’s Birdie Flourish Sets Record

Chad Campbell didn’t wait long to write his name in Masters Tournament annals Thursday, opening his first round with five straight birdies, a new tournament record.

Campbell, who held the 36-hole lead in 2007, birdied holes one through five before a par at the sixth hole stopped the run.

The West Texas product from the tiny town of Andrews never played on an 18-hole course before he got to high school. He was watched by his parents and his older brother Mike, the head golf coach at Abilene Christian University.

The Masters record for most consecutive birdies, seven, is held by Tiger Woods and Steve Pate in 2005 and 1999, respectively. Nick Price holds the record for most total number of birdies at 10, set in his record round of 63 in 1986.

First Time Flourish

First time invitee Ross Fisher of England didn’t waste much time getting his name on the leaderboard, climbing to five-under-par in the first round before finishing with a 69.

“I was just trying to stay calm and control my breathing,” said Fisher.

He came to the Masters showing good form by making it to the World Golf Championship World Match Play semifinals and also by narrowly missing the European Ryder Cup team last fall.

“I’ve believed in myself for a long time,” he said.

Masters Glory

Several past Masters champions thrilled the Patrons in the first round.

1987 winner Larry Mize shot a five-under-par 67, which tied his lowest first round score (1993). Mize, 51, has only made one 36-hole cut in the last eight years and has missed 8 of the last 10.

“That was one great round of golf,” said amateur playing partner Drew Kittleson.

“My game felt pretty good coming into he week, but I didn’t image a 67," Mize said.

Two-time champion Bernhard Langer, who played with Greg Norman, shot a two-under-par 70 as did 2007 winner Zach Johnson.

After what he called an unsatisfactory score of 70, when the course was there to be had, Tiger Woods spent an extra 30 minutes after his round on the practice green, working with teacher Hank Haney and caddy Steve Williams

"I had good pace and hit the ball on my line, but just didn’t make very many (putts)," Woods said. "I felt I putted pretty good."

Haney pushed two golf tees into the ground for Woods at the practice putting green and watched while the four-time Masters Champion practiced three-to-four foot putts.

Woods had a birdie putt of that length lip out on the par 4 17th.