Campbell counts his German blessing

US Open champion Michael Campbell admitted Thursday's wash-out at the Deutsche Bank Championship had been "a blessing in disguise".

The opening day's play in Hamburg was abandoned without a ball being struck after heavy rain left parts of the Gut Kaden course under water.

Play began 24 hours later yesterday morning and Campbell cruised to a seven-under-par 65 to share the clubhouse lead with Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Italy's Alessandro Tadini, Welshman Bradley Dredge and Australian Wade Ormsby a shot back in third.

The New Zealander carded seven birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round, continuing where he left off in last week's Open championship.

"For me the delay was a blessing in disguise really because it's been a very exhausting last six weeks and on Thursday I did nothing," said Campbell, who held off Tiger Woods to win his first major title five weeks ago.

"I just slept and watched movies and tried to conserve a lot of energy. I needed to rest and it was more of a positive thing for me than a negative."

Campbell missed the cut in his first five events this season but since putting a new driver in his bag for the Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing at the end of April has enjoyed a superb run of form. He finished third in China, fourth in the British Masters and eighth in the BMW Championship at Wentworth before his shock triumph at Pinehurst.

"The game feels easy right now but I still respect it," said Campbell, who also finished fifth at St Andrews last week. "When you think you have this game by the scruff of the neck it bites you back very quickly.

"Since I got the new driver my length and accuracy has definitely improved, if you look at the stats before and after the Johnnie Walker it's like night and day."

The Brighton-based 36-year-old has added more than 10 yards to his drives and improved his accuracy by 40 per cent, and also believes he is focusing far better on each shot.

"In the past I'd get a little bit lazy and fall asleep for two or three holes and make a few silly errors, I think that's why I'm so inconsistent with my performances throughout my whole career."

Playing partner Marcel Siem of Germany delighted the home crowds with a 67 to finish five under, alongside Korea's KJ Choi, who also won a Rolex watch as the first player to eagle the par five 17th.

That had not been the first eagle of the day, however, Stenson holing his approach to the 10th, his opening hole, from 112 yards. "I didn't see it go in because the pin was tight behind the bunker but I almost did it again on the next, the ball spun back towards the hole but stopped two feet short," said Stenson, winner of the inaugural Heritage tournament last year at Woburn.

"After that I lost some momentum but I finished nicely with birdies at the last two holes and I'm very happy."

Padraig Harrington was understandably rusty on his return to action for the first time since the death of his father. Harrington, who withdrew from the Open, was four under after nine holes but came home in 38 for a two-under 70.

"It was going well for a good while but I just hit a few poor, slack shots," the Dubliner said.

"On the par five third I laid up into the water and on the last hit a poor wedge with the wind swirling. I didn't really settle on the shot and I suppose I lost three shots on those two holes.

"I'll go and hit a few shots and hopefully it will get better."

Compatriot Graeme McDowell was best-placed of the Irish contingent with a three-under 69. Joining Harrington on 70 was fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley.

American John Daly could only manage a two-over 74 after calling for a ruling on his opening hole, thinking the insert in his putter had come loose.

Two tour officials were called but ruled the insert was not loose and the club could therefore not be replaced. Senior referee Andy McFee said: "It was not significantly deformed, nor was it loose.

"I could see nothing in the state of the club that would have allowed him to declare it unfit for play under the current rules."