ERNIE ELS was not especially convincing in his attempts at a low key assessment of South Africa's World Cup prospects after the host country had opened up a two stroke lead in the first round at Erinvale yesterday. Play was delayed for three hours because of rain and at the end of a long day, Ireland were in a share of 10th place, nine strokes adrift.

With its reputation as a sports crazy nation, South Africa was expected to strongly support this the first staging of the event on their continent. Given the conditions, however, it was remarkable that they actually set a first day attendance record of 9,175, most of whom seemed to be following the local pair, Els and Wayne Westner.

As it happened, the big hitting duo looked set to establish a much more convincing lead. They were four strokes clear of opponents Denmark going to the 18th but a two stroke swing occurred when Thomas Bjorn birdied and Us bunkered a wedge approach for a disappointing bogey.

"It's not going to get any easier over the next three days," warned the World Matchplay champion afterwards. "We will give it 110 per cent but if we don't win, nobody will die out there. It won't be the end of the world."

No indeed. But through the media build up and yesterday's crowds, Us and Westner have been left in no doubt as to what their nation expects. And it was clear that on a long, demanding course with sodden fairways their powerful striking delivered a considerable dividend over the rest of the field.

In this context, the Irish pair should also have had an edge. As it happened, Darren Clarke (71) did well, considering a wretched, double bogey seven at the long 13th, but Padraig Harrington performed disappointingly, particularly around the greens where he lacked his customary assurance with the blade en route to a 74.

"Given the way I played, that's about the worst score I've done all season," he said afterwards. "I reckon I blew about six strokes." Clarke, meanwhile, expressed disappointment at the overall team effort, saying: "Four under would have been no more than an average score for us on the day."

The rain delay prompted the organisers to opt for two tee starts and when the Irish set off from the 10th, Harrington promptly carded two three putt bogeys in an unnerving start. He missed a birdie effort from less than four feet at the 12th but got some joy when a downhill six footer found the target for a birdie at the next.

He went on to misjudge a wedge approach at the long 16th where he found the front bunker and ran up an improbable bogey six to eventually reach the turn in a two over 38.

By comparison, Clarke looked more comfortable, pitching to six feet for a birdie at the 11th. But he brought needless pressure on himself by his play of the 13th. There, in attempting to reach the green 235 yards away with a three wood second shot, he made contact with the toe of the club sending the ball towards the right boundary fence.

Lucky to find it, he had no option other than to take a penalty drop; he hacked it a few feet and finally got on the green in five for a two putt seven. Birdies at the 15th and 18th, however, guided him to the turn in a creditable 35.

By this stage it was clear that the course was conceding precious little to a quality field. So, with a combined score of one over par, the Irish could afford to be patient. Then, in two holes, their fortunes were transformed. The spark came when Harrington sank an eight footer for birdie at the second.

He and Clarke both found the green at the 507 yard third with four iron second shots. Clarke holed a three footer for an eagle and Harrington had a two putt birdie from 12 feet. Suddenly, they had moved to three under par and on to the leaderboard. So, their disappointment was acute when they each covered the remaining holes in two over par, Harrington paying the penalty for some slack approach play.

Still, their performance had to be viewed in the context of a combined three over from Tom Lehman and Steve Jones who are attempting to bring the trophy to the US for a fifth successive year. And while Harrington may have felt that he let his partner down, England's Jim Payne, who shot a fine 71, had to contend with a crushing 78 from his partner, Peter Mitchell.

Meanwhile, Bjorn shot a best of the day 67 to lift Denmark to unprecedented heights in this event. Scotland moved into third place on three under par, largely through a brilliant back nine of 32 from Paul Lawrie, who had three successive birdies from the short 12th.

But fittingly, it was Els and Westner who provided the home crowd with just the right lift on a murky day. Both shot 68 while Els, whose approach play is normally his great strength, had a particularly productive day with the putter. An indication of their length was the fact that the 295 yards par four 11th, playing into a breeze, was comfortably within range.

Perhaps Elks is right perhaps the pressure will increase. But if it does, their first round performances suggested that these fine practitioners have considerable skill in reserve.