Campbell joins the leaders

New Zealander Michael Campbell forgot his US Open nightmare to take a share of the lead in the European Open.

Campbell had a second-round 83 in New York last month - and afterwards chose to leave his clubs in the bag for two weeks.

On his return to the fold, the 33-year-old scored a first round, three-under-par 69 followed by a birdie at the short 12th - his third - which took him level with overnight pacesetters Jarrod Moseley and Darren Fichardt.

Campbell is the only player to putt better than Colin Montgomerie in Europe this season, but he felt there was loads of room for improvement on the greens in his 69.

It became a two-way tie at the top between Moseley and Campbell when Fichardt, who lost a play-off at the Irish Open after missing a three-foot putt on the first extra hole, resumed with a bogey-six at the 10th.

Montgomerie, in the group handily placed on three under, was among the later starters, as was Greg Norman on the same mark.

Defending champion Darren Clarke remained two over after three holes of his second round - and probably needs to retain his position to survive the halfway cut.