Levet, Casey share British Open lead

TROON, Scotland, July 15 (UPI) -- Thomas Levet of France and England's Paul Casey shared the first-round lead in the British Open Thursday at 5-under-par 66.

Levet, winner of last week's Scottish Open, and Casey, who tied for sixth at the Masters, played early on a relatively calm day at the Royal Troon Golf Club. Thirty-nine players were under par.

"I'm not getting in my own way as I have done, especially last year," said Casey, who has won three tournaments on the European Tour.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell was alone in second place after a 67.

A nine-player group two shots out of the lead at 68 included Vijay Singh, a three-time winner this year.

U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and Ernie Els were in another large group at 2-under 69 and Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard and John Daly were among 14 players who shot 70.

"I think it was positive the way I played today," said Woods, who won in 2000.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson had 73 and defending British Open champion Ben Curtis 75.