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Campbell takes charge as Singh slips

Posted on: Friday, 7 April 2006, 15:07 CDT

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - American Chad Campbell charged to the top of the leaderboard with a five-under-par 67 in the U.S. Masters second round on Friday.

Four strokes off the pace overnight, the 31-year-old Texan mixed six birdies with a solitary bogey at the par-four 17th to finish on six-under 138.

That put Campbell two ahead of first-round leader Vijay Singh, who was one over for the day after nine holes as the swirling winds strengthened at Augusta National.

"It's special to be leading after two rounds," Campbell told reporters. "Obviously, my goal is to be leading after four rounds, but it's a good start.

"This is a special place and a special tournament. I'm glad to be a part of it and glad to be playing well," said the 31-year-old after holing a 15-foot birdie putt at the last.

"It's very tough out there, especially this afternoon on our back nine when the winds were swirling quite a bit."

World number two Singh, who won the 2000 Masters, fell back after making a rousing start.

FORGED AHEAD

He picked up his first shot at the par-four first and forged ahead of the chasing pack with another at the par-four third.

However, Singh than ran up double-bogeys at the par-three fourth and the par-four fifth before recovering with a birdie-two at the sixth.

The easy-swinging Fijian had been one stroke clear at the start of the day after firing a five-birdie 67 at a sun-baked Augusta.

Britain's Darren Clarke birdied the last for a 70 and a 36-hole total of two-under 142.

"Two under is pretty good after two rounds here," said Clarke, whose best Masters finish was a tie for eighth on his debut in 1998.

"I was very comfortable and relaxed out there, just taking what the course gives me."

Level with the Northern Irishman on a congested leaderboard of high quality were 2004 winner Phil Mickelson (72) and Ernie Els (71).

Also at two under were American Rocco Mediate, after 13 holes, and 2003 champion Mike Weir, after 10.

World number one Tiger Woods, who opened with a 72, was level for the tournament after eight holes.

FIFTH JACKET

Chasing his fifth green jacket, the holder offset a bogey at the first with a birdie at the par-four third before dropping another stroke at the par-three fourth.

Woods, who won last year's title in a playoff with Chris DiMarco, then birdied the par-five eighth to get back to even par.

Australia's Nick O'Hern had been the early clubhouse leader at one-under 143 following a level-par 72.

The left-hander got to three under overall before bogeying two of the last three holes.

"It's just a tough golf course," O'Hern told reporters after finishing level with American Billy Mayfair (72).

"The conditions didn't change much from yesterday. We had a bit of breeze which makes it firmer.

"I didn't strike the ball as well as yesterday. I missed quite a few fairways."

Augusta has been stretched to 7,445 yards since the 2005 tournament, making it the second longest course in major championship history.

Source: REUTERS

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