Things go from bad to worse for Campbell

Michael Campbell, who won last year's European Open at the K Club, tries to break records every time he plays

Michael Campbell, who won last year's European Open at the K Club, tries to break records every time he plays. But now he has one he wishes had not happened.

The New Zealander, ranked 25th in the world, began the Players Championship in Florida yesterday with a 17-over-par 89 - and was then disqualified for signing for an 87.

While world number one Tiger Woods battled with his game for once and Colin Montgomerie found a new reason to lose his cool, Campbell endured what he "the worst round of my professional life".

At the start of last week the 34-year-old wrenched his left shoulder moving luggage. He hoped at first it would not affect his career, now he knows it has.

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Campbell withdrew from the Bay Hill Invitational after taking 10 on his first hole. And if he thought things could not get worse, he soon discovered they could.

"I'm hitting shots 100 yards left. I haven't done that since I was 12," he said. "I just can't get through the ball - it's like an alien has taken over my body."

Yet when Campbell avoided a 90 by closing with a birdie on one of the hardest holes on the entire US Tour he just laughed.

He added: "You've got to, otherwise you'd go in and slit your throat. It's only a game, only one round and I believe in myself. But I think the easier part to cure is going to be the physical side rather than the mental side."

It was the highest round ever at Sawgrass since the event moved there in 1982.

Montgomerie's latest fury came when play was called off for the day just seconds before he attempted a birdie putt on his last hole.

A storm was fast approaching and officials wanted to get all the players and spectators off the Sawgrass course, but the Scot stormed away swearing.

It had not been a bad round - he resumed today at one over par with a chance to join Woods on 72 - but not as good as it shaped up to be.

Montgomerie turned in 34, but then bogeyed the first and had a double-bogey seven on the second after a poor drive.

Out in front on four under overnight were Americans Bob Tway, Jay Haas, Rocco Mediate, Skip Kendall and Kevin Sutherland. Of those Sutherland is the only one still to complete his opening round.

Woods, winner of three of his first four tournaments this year, was two over with three to play, but birdied the 16th and 17th and remains favourite for the first prize.

Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and Sergio Garcia all set off again one under, Harrington having played only 10 holes, while Nick Faldo and Luke Donald were alongside Woods on level par and Justin Rose two over.

Clarke reckoned there must be some mistake when the name of Woods stayed off the leaderboard.

"I thought somebody was having some fun," said the Tyroneman. But Woods said: "I could easily have shot 77 to 79 the way I hit the ball and even par was a heck of an accomplishment. I kept myself in the ball game."

Clarke, who finished his 71 with a 15-foot par putt, commented: "I had so many makeable putts for birdie and didn't make any of them.

"I would have been very disappointed with level par, so it was important to close like that. This is one of the most mentally challenging courses we play - one poor shot and you are staring at a double bogey straightaway.

"My patience was very good. I waited for things to happen, which I've not always been very good at."