Nico van Rensburg yesterday put an unhappy experience at last year's European Tour School behind him to lead the Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship by two shots from Ernie Els after the first round at the Houghton Golf Club, Johannesburg.
The 32-year-old South African is looking for a simpler way to earn privileges on the 1999 Volvo Tour by winning this co-sanctioned event after having the misfortune to be grouped with the eccentric American Mac O'Grady at San Roque in Spain last November.
O'Grady is the man charged with wrecking Seve Ballesteros's swing and has the distinction of playing off scratch both right and left handed. Having given up playing on the USPGA Tour years ago, he entered the European Tour school as a way of tuning up for the Seniors Tour.
But he earned no friends in the process, verbally abusing his playing partners and their caddies, so much so that Van Rensburg almost came to blows with him. "O'Grady made it impossible for me and the others," said Van Rensburg.
"I missed my card by three shots and that's how my year ended. But it made me more focused and I'm glad it happened because if I'm ever in that situation again I'll know what to do."
Yesterday he shot a seven-under-par 65, two clear of Els and three in front of the Dutchman Rolf Muntz and the South African Richard Kaplan.
However, it was a disappointing day for Ireland's contingent with John McHenry and Paul McGinley returning five over par 77s and Eamonn Darcy a miserable 82.
Van Rensburg has campaigned successfully on the Asian Tour for a number of years but yearns to play on the bigger stage. Two years ago he gifted this tournament to Zimbabwe's Nick Price with a three-putt at the 17th on the final day. This time he was slow out of the blocks, turning in 35, but he came home in six-under 30.
His round was in marked contrast to that of Nick Faldo, who travelled full of hope, struggled to the 12th at one over but then dropped four shots in the last six holes to return a five-over-par 77.
His iron play, for so long the backbone of his game, seems to have deserted him. At the 10th hole he hit a simple wedge shot 15 yards short and 10 yards right, and there were further examples on most of the back nine. A philosophical Faldo headed for the practice tee, saying: "There are no surprises anymore, only disappointments."
The defending champion, Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe, also shot 77 and Germany's Sven Struver, who won the title three years ago, shot a three-over 75. Last year's Open Championship sensation Justin Rose continued his disastrous introduction to the pro ranks by shooting 78.
But Els, runner-up twice in this tournament, has a particular liking for the Houghton course, where he won his first championship as a professional in 1992. This was his first competitive round after his New Year's Eve wedding and he cruised to the turn in 32, after starting at the 10th.
Els is always at his most relaxed when playing in South Africa and admitted that he had not done any serious practice before the event, preferring instead to show his bride, Liesl, a good time on the coast catching crayfish and staying in a friend's cottage with no running water.
Els was on the practice tee at 6.15 a.m. and said: "It was a bit of a shock. For the last two weeks I've been coming home at 6 a.m."
Retief Goosen withdrew from the tournament because of an injury suffered in a skiing accident in Switzerland over Christmas. The South African completed his round of 73 then said his fractured arm had not healed.
Jack Nicklaus will have hip replacement surgery this month, forcing him to miss the US Masters for the first time in 40 years.
Nicklaus, who turns 59 next week, had put off surgery on his arthritic left hip with hopes that a strenuous exercise routine would allow him to play without pain.
Instead, the winner of 18 major championships will have an operation on January 27.
"When I feel strong enough and able to play golf at a competitive level, I will continue to play tournament golf," said Nicklaus.
