Retief Goosen and Alex Cejka share the lead on eight-under-par after the rain-affected first round of the South African Open.
Two-time champion in share of lead with German, Els lurking
Retief Goosen and Alex Cejka share the lead on eight-under-par after the rain-affected first round of the South African Open was completed on Friday.
On what was a good day for the big-name home players, Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel both shot 65 to sit in joint third, while Englishman David Dixon was in a group of six players a further shot back on six under.
Alongside Dixon is Spaniard Carlos Del Moral and four more South Africans; Richard Sterne, Jaco Ahlers, Garth Mulroy and Tyrone van Aswegen.
Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Scot David Drysdale and Richard McEvoy of England formed part of a posse of ten players who ended on five-under following a low-scoring day at the Durban Country Club.
With only two and half hours' play possible on Thursday because of rain, organisers now hope to play round two on Saturday before squeezing in 36 holes on Sunday.
Two-time former champion Goosen came into the day having already completed four holes on Thursday and produced a real mixed bag, with two bogeys sitting alongside a pair of eagles and six birdies.
Speaking afterwards, he said: "Obviously, that's the way you want to start. It went nicely for me yesterday, those four holes in the rain when I managed to get two birdies and then on the first this morning I got another one to keep the momentum going.
Good start
"I'm off to a good start so hopefully I can try and start building on this tomorrow afternoon. Then we'll see what happens on Sunday if we play 36 or 18."
German Cejka, a four-time winner on the European Tour, did not drop a single shot with four birdies coming on both the front and back nines.
"It was a good day," he commented. "The practice rounds were not so good for me, but today was excellent.
"There's still three rounds to go, which is a long, long way. Hopefully I can play well in the next three days."
Putting problems
World number 12 Els is looking for his fifth triumph in the event but admits he will be looking to improve with the putter as the week goes on.
"I missed quite a few putts on the front nine and was getting a little annoyed with myself, but I played a really solid back nine," added Els, who came home in 31.
"You know I just hit the ball really nicely and that's something I can take out of today.
"I really feel like I'm solid from tee to green and you need to be on this course. Hopefully that back nine will give me a lot of confidence for the weekend."
