Campbell comes into form

Less than 24 hours after bemoaning his indifferent recent form, Michael Campbell was at the top of the leaderboard in the early stages of the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters today.

The Brighton-based New Zealander has not won a strokeplay event since his US Open triumph at Pinehurst last year, and has been frustrated by uncharacteristically poor putting.

But four birdies in his first seven holes at Barseback this morning took the 37-year-old into a share of the lead with Birmingham’s Tom Whitehouse.

Starting from the 10th, Campbell birdied his opening hole and then picked up another shot on the par-five 12th. Further birdies at the 15th and 16th took him to four under par.

Whitehouse, who won a £23,000 Audi TT for an eagle two on the ninth in last week’s Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship in Hamburg, was in the first group out at 7:30am local time and had carded five birdies and one bogey in 11 holes.

It was no surprise to see several home players also high on the leaderboard given the 48 Swedes in the 159-man field.

Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson, playing alongside Campbell, was three under par with former Ryder Cup player Niclas Fasth two under after an eagle on the 12th.