Campbell makes strong start at Close House

Former U.S. Open Championship winner Michael Campbell rolled back the years to hold a share of the lead during the early stages of the 2020 Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood.

The 51-year-old, who recorded the last of his eight European Tour titles in 2005 shortly after becoming a Major champion at Pinehurst, was three under for the first ten holes of his opening round at Close House Golf Club.

That put the New Zealander alongside Spain's Nacho Elvira at the top of the leaderboard, with both players having made four birdies against a single bogey.

Elvira, looking for his first European Tour title, followed a birdie on the second with a bogey at the next but then fired a hat-trick of gains from the fifth and remained three under through eight.

Sweden's Jens Fahrbring, Scotland's Calum Hill and England's Ben Stow were in a share of third on two under, with tournament host Westwood level par after following an opening birdie with a bogey at the second.

Former Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn, Spain's Miguel Angel Jiménez and recent Austrian Open winner Marc Warren were among the afternoon starters.