Els eyeing record round

Defending champion Ernie Els was on course for a sensational opening round at the Heineken Classic in Melbourne today after scorching to 11 under par from just 13 holes.

Els blitzed the front nine in 29 shots and had both the European Tour record and his own personal best round in sight as he followed up an eagle on the ninth with four consecutive birdies.

No player has broken 60 on the European Tour, while Els set his own best mark of 61 in the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic.

The composite championship course at Royal Melbourne, with a course record of 62, is considered a tough test, but at par-72 many feel it is too generous to professionals able to reach many of the par fives in just two strokes.

Of his first 13 holes, Els only failed to gain a stroke three times and on a course that demands accuracy he was in dead-eye form.

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell holds the clubhouse lead with a faultless eight-under-par 64 but it appeared to be no match for Els’ insatiable touch.

How he loves to play in Melbourne.

Els is vying for a hat-trick of Heineken Classic titles and after winning last year he sailed over to Perth and claimed the Johnnie Walker Classic in record fashion – shooting a European Tour record low of 29 under par.

Campbell, himself a two-time winner of the Heineken Classic, set the early pace after only five weeks ago going under the knife to correct varicose veins.

He aborted one comeback at the New Zealand Open as his right leg caused trouble, but he felt confident and comfortable on course today.

“I changed my equipment, new balls, new clothing range, new leg, it’s been a massive overhaul,” he said.

“After the operation it is nice to come out strong. When you are playing well your mindset is positive about everything. Apparently it was hot out there today, but I did not feel it.

“The leg was a little bit sore out there, but not too bad. It is a kind of numb feeling on the inside left thigh.”

The New Zealander’s inward nine formed the solid back-bone of his round as he sank four consecutive birdies to sit one shot ahead of compatriot Mahal Pearce and Australian pair Wade Ormsby and Craig Carmichael.

Peter O’Malley, second here to Els in 2002, threatened Campbell’s score as he surged to seven under par, helped by an eagle on the par-five 10th.

But he slipped back to join Australians Peter Fowler, who finished on six under par, and 23-year-old rising star Adam Scott who had played 11.

One further back sat England’s David Howell on five under after 15, with four of his countrymen in the clubhouse on four under par, including Paul Casey and Nick Faldo, both of whom made their mark on this tournament last year.

Casey, who led the field into the weekend and eventually finished tied for fourth, dropped shots at the first and sixth – his 10th and 15th – to take the gloss off an otherwise impressive round.

Faldo’s effort was saved by an eagle three on the par-five second – his 11th - sealed with a simple five-foot putt after a spectacular iron to the green.

He also bogeyed the first and the 12th, but finished tied on four under par with compatriots Brian Davis and Greg Owen, whose round was undermined by a double-bogey six on the fourth.

“I’m very pleased, it was a good score,” said Faldo.

“It is a strategy golf course and you need to do good things. You have to go out with the right intentions. You have to be very cagey, smart and patient and take what you can get.

“I put the ball in good places and saved par a few times which always helps to keep yourself going.

“I messed up a little bit but I am pleased with the score and a birdie, birdie finish.”

Lurking just behind the contingent on four under par was Stuart Appleby, a recent winner on the USPGA Tour at the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii.

Ian Woosnam, meanwhile, endured a miserable morning to finish tied for last place on five over par with an error-strewn 77.

The Welshman, who has been to the gym and worked hard to regain his fitness for a tilt at making the Europe Ryder Cup team, started brightly with a birdie at the 10th – his first – but dropped seven shots in all.

Woosnam’s only other success was a birdie on the second but he was sitting tied for last place with Australian Shane Tait.

Greg Norman’s round was saved by an impressive inward nine, including three birdies and an eagle. With a birdie at the last, the Shark finished one under par.