While Campbell has reached halfway on schedule – and did so very impressively with rounds of 68 and 65 to stand nine under par – half the field still have some catching up to do following a four-hour Friday rain delay.

For example, England’s Brian Davis, who led after an opening 65, had not even started his second round when he returned to the Riviera Country Club at dawn this morning.

On six under Davis, winner of the US Tour qualifying school two months ago, shared second place with Californian Kevin Sutherland and Australian Robert Allenby.

In the group one shot further back are Luke Donald, Darren Clarke and Tiger Woods, but while Donald got his day’s work done, Clarke and Woods managed only five and four holes respectively before play was called off because of darkness last night.

Weather permitting, they were teeing off again at 7.30am local time as the €3.6m event attempted to make up for lost time.

Already out are Paul Casey and Graeme McDowell on six over and five over respectively, but Lee Westwood has moved into joint 20th place on three under and Colin Montgomerie resumed two under and not out of contention yet on the course where he lost a play-off for the 1995 US PGA championship.

Campbell was runner-up to Shaun Micheel in that event two years ago and then captured the season-ending Tour Championship.

But 2004 was not so successful. He did add the Bay Hill Invitational, but the chubby Texan has not had a top-10 finish since May and five months ago was part of the Ryder Cup team hammered by Europe.

“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked to, but it was a great experience – awesome,” commented Campbell.

“The one thing you learn when you make your debut is how big a deal it is. People tell you how nervous you’re going to be on the first tee, but you have to experience it.

“Nothing compares to it with the crowd yelling ’USA, USA.’ Every shot means something and it’s pretty intense, but the week’s a lot of fun.”

It ended with him playing table tennis with Chris DiMarco into the early hours - until the ball flew out of the 5th floor window of the team hotel.

Davis so wanted to be part of the match too, but missed the cut in the final qualifying tournament.

Also 30, he has given himself a fresh challenge by earning a place on the lucrative US Tour and with the possibility of 36 holes today was gearing himself up for a tough examination.

Clarke is seeking his third victory on the circuit – the other two were World Championships – and Donald his second.

But a level par 71 by the High Wycombe golfer yesterday was not what he was hoping for after starting with a 66.

“It was pretty boring,” he said after one birdie, one bogey and 16 pars. “But I’m still in a good position. And it was good to finish – I get to sleep in now.”