Scotland's Steven O'Hara took the first step towards retaining his Tour card with a seven-under-par 65 at the South African Open.
Goosen one off the pace after a 66
Scotland's Steven O'Hara took the first step towards retaining his Tour card with a seven-under-par 65 at the South African Open.
That was enough to earn him a share of the first round lead in Ekurhuleni, as he bids to climb from his current 134th on the money list into the top 118 who will keep their playing priviliges next season.
O'Hara, who began the year with a fourth-place finish at the Africa Open, needs a similar performance at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Serengeti course.
As things stand this is his last opportunity, but a top-five finish would give him a place in next week's Hong Kong Open.
A team-mate of Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell in the 2001 Walker Cup, the 31-year-old shares top spot with South African Jbe Kruger.
Two-time former champion Retief Goosen is among those only one behind, while five-time champion Ernie Els began his title defence with a 69 and England's Simon Dyson - at 32nd in the world the highest-ranked player in the field - shot an opening 70.
O'Hara, who eagled the 576-yard eighth and had six birdies, said: "I hit a lot of great shots. I had it inside 10 feet pretty much every hole and felt I could have made more birdies."
O'Hara had a golden chance at the Czech Open in August to make his immediate future secure, leading with a round to go before dropping to fifth with three closing bogeys.
Kruger led by four halfway through last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship, but finished only joint ninth after two closing rounds of 73.
"This is the SA Open, it's the biggest event when you grow up," he said. "Just to take it one shot at a time is the most important thing."
Goosen, beaten by a shot in Durban last December, reached seven under as well and then had back-to-back bogeys, but finished in style by almost holing his tee shot to the 230-yard ninth.
Struggle
Like Els, he has just fallen out of the game's top 50 and has been battling injury. "The whole year's been a struggle, but my back's been better the last month and the exercise I'm doing is helping," he said.
Els won only one of his five games for the International team in last week's Presidents Cup defeat and, given his problems on the greens, a three-putt bogey was not the start he was looking for.
The 42-year-old fought his way back into things, but closed with a bogey after driving into sand.
"Three under is not bad, but there were a couple of silly bogeys," he said. "I grew up in this area, so it's nice to be back and it's a great course."
Goosen shares third spot with fellow South Africans Merrick Bremner, David Hewan and Tyrone Mordt.
