When Greg Norman and Tom Watson stop you on the practice range for a chat and then back you to win, you need nerves of granite and steel not to feel the pressure.

But if new US Open champion Michael Campbell was groaning under a new weight of peer and public expectation - he wasn't showing it.

The Brighton-based Kiwi is firmly in the mix following a first round three-under par 69 yesterday.

He sits just three shots behind Open favourite Tiger Woods and just one shot adrift of a raft of top names on four-under, including Retief Goosen, Jose Maria Olazabal and leading British hope Luke Donald.

Before his breakthrough triumph at Pinehurst three weeks ago, St Andrews was the scene of Campbell's greatest and worst major moment.

Ten years ago Campbell stood on the first tee of the Old Course, suddenly overwhelmed by the prospect of being just 18 holes from a life-changing victory at the birthplace of golf.

His legs shook. His hands quivered. His mind raced.

Five hours later, his two-shot Open lead had vanished, a four-over par 76 leaving him heartbroken - and tied for third.

Those memories should only serve to fuel his desire this week but Campbell insists past glories and disasters will be treated with equal contempt.

"When I stepped out on the first tee I drew a line under being the US Open champion - everything that has gone before, it means nothing if I'm to win here," he said.

"It's been a great three weeks - a real rocket ride and I've enjoyed all the attention and the accolades.

"But I'm not prepared to dwell on Pinehurst. I'm only focussed on doing well here, what has come before is irrelevant really.

"No-one cares that I'm US Open champion here, I'm just another guy trying to win this title.

"However, I do know now that I can perform alongside the very best in the world and out-do them. That's a big confidence thing."

Campbell admits he feels at home at the Home of Golf - maybe because his great, great grandfather, Sir Logan Campbell, hailed from these parts before he emigrated in 1845.

Although the benign early conditions, of which Campbell took gleeful advantage, were an added and unexpected bonus.

Slipping into his role as an honorary Scotsman, Campbell added: "The was nothing compared to Wellington - this was a wee breeze.

"It was very benign conditions for Scotland and St Andrews and I was lucky enough to tee off in the morning when the weather was at its calmest.

"I would have absolutely taken three under at the start of the day, it was a pretty good round. I will take three under for the next three rounds, around this golf course.

"It's going to get harder and faster as the week goes on and 12 under will give me a very good chance of winning here."

Campbell started with a run of four pars before consecutive birdies at the fifth and sixth earned him a place on the early leaderboard.

He soon squandered one of his shots while a wayward drive at the 12th, which left him in the sort of undergrowth favoured by bearded botanists answering to the name of Bellamy, brought him back to level par.

However, a strong finish, including three consecutive birdies, put Campbell back in the Tiger hunt.

His approach shots and putts were perfect at the 14th and 15th and he chipped in one hole later to move to three-under.

Then came St Andrews' infamous road hole - and its cavernous newly expanded and deepened bunker, a trap which once took Japan's Tommy Nakajima five shots to escape from.

The bunker is part of its sport's legend and it's a famous landmark for non-golf fans too.

Apparently, according to well-informed sources working at one of the town's numerous pubs, the sand trap is a favoured venue for students seeking a soft surface for late-night frolics.

Campbell though had little time for such frivolity although a three-putt bogey meant his birdie at the last secured a round of 69.

Campbell was followed throughout by members of his ever-growing fan club, in white 'Team Cambo' t-shirts emblazoned with the Maori legend Kia Kaha - translation 'Stay Strong'.

"The fans were fantastic, really supportive and really loud," added Campbell. "I get a real kick out of playing in front of big galleries, I seem to lift my game for it."

One of Cambo's cheering squad is still counting his cash after staking £25 to win £5,000 on his hero at Pinehurst.

He's 'reinvested' a sizeable sum of his winnings this week - and was keeping that betting slip very safe last night.