Ken Borland

Charl Schwartzel got angry and got more than even as he scorched through the back nine to claim a share of the first-round lead in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City on Thursday.The South African was one-over-par midway through the round after a double-bogey at the ninth, his third shot finding the water. But his troubles ended there as he blazed through the back nine in just 31 shots, picking up five birdies to finish with a four-under-par 68.Defending champion Lee Westwood joined him there half-an-hour later with a birdie on the 18th, but there was little in common in their 68s.

They both dropped two shots, but Schwartzel’s came at one hole – the picturesque par-five ninth. As it was for much of the front nine, he was in trouble off the tee and he only managed to put his second into the semi-rough. The Masters champions’ decision to go for the green with his third shot looked foolhardy and so it proved as he plonked the ball into the water guarding the putting surface.

Westwood, in contrast, bogeyed the first hole and the par-three 12th, but eagled the ninth, so they were four shots apart on just that one hole. The Englishman hit driver and then five-iron to six feet for an easy-as-you-like eagle and proceeded through the rest of his round in similarly unruffled fashion.

Schwartzel, meanwhile, discovered some consistency off the tee on the back nine and his iron play was superb as he made beelines for the flags. His short game was also on song, and it needed to be, as he sunk good putts for birdie on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th holes, while his excellent chip out of the greenside bunker on 17 saved his par just after he had gained the lead.

‘Fearless’

“I got cross! I probably became fearless. Turning on one-over, I was not too happy with myself, I felt that I was playing better than that and sometimes that’s what you need to spur you on. I started releasing the club properly and was just firing at the flags,” Schwartzel said.

Robert Karlsson was in third place, a stroke behind, and a bogey five on the par-four 17th was a blow to his hopes of leading. It was a disappointing level-par back nine for the long-hitting Swede, who had gone out in 33 after three successive birdies from the second hole.

The 17th is a wonderful hole that brings the water unavoidably into play on either the first or second shots and it punished several of the golfers on Thursday.

World number one Luke Donald was in the lead on four-under when he pulled his drive left off the tee and into the water, having to reload and leading to a double-bogey and a 70 that left him in a tie for fourth with Jason Dufner, Simon Dyson, Martin Kaymer, Kyung-Tae Kim and Graeme McDowell.

Kaymer bogeyed the 17th, only avoiding a double by sinking a 12-foot putt, after his second shot was short and slid off the bank into the water.

Jason Dufner also bogeyed the penultimate hole, but it was a cold putter that struck the biggest blows to the American’s hopes as could pick up just one birdie on the back nine, when several more beckoned after his solid play from tee to green.

The Sun City debutant had four birdies on the front nine, but also had two bogeys.

Another debutant, South Korean Kyung-Tae Kim, closed with a highly-creditable 70, birdieing the par-five 10th and 14th holes before parring his way in for an impressive first round.

But it is the home favourite who has gathered some early momentum and lived up to his billing as one of the favourites for the title.

“It didn’t look too promising after the turn, so I was happy with my finish. It gave me a nice positive vibe going into the next three rounds,” Schwartzel said.

But no one in the 12-man field is outside contention, with the gap between the leader and the last-placed Darren Clarke being just six shots.

The Open champion did not have the best of days, with three bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-four sixth, but the popular Northern Irishman ensured the rest of the field did not get away from him by finishing with a 74.

In the Nedbank Senior Challenge, Tom Lehman will be agonizing over his final hole. The American had a one-stroke lead as he stood on the tee, but after holing a lengthy putt for double-bogey, he had slipped down to fifth place on two-under-par.

It looks like a tremendous battle for the smaller crystal orb, with David Frost, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam, all members of the Million Dollar winners’ circle, tied for the lead on three-under.

Charl Schwartzel and Lee Westwood were tied for the lead in the Nedbank Golf Challenge after they shot contrasting 68s in the first round at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City on Thursday. 4.08pm– A good drive by Westwood on the 18th hole is followed by a neat approach shot to 18 feet. The defending champion then strokes in a beautiful birdie putt to complete two loops of 34.

3.34pm– Another excellent approach shot by Schwartzel sets up an easy par on the 18th hole. That’s a fantastic back nine and 68 for the South African, one shot ahead of Jason Dufner, Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson.

3.24pm– Charl Schwartzel’s comeback continues as he birdies the par-three 16th, sinking another good putt, to go to four-under-par, one shot ahead of Robert Karlsson. He is in trouble on the 17th, finding the greenside bunker, but an excellent chip to four feet sees him maintain his lead with a par.

Martin Kaymer, meanwhile, slips back to two-under with a bogey on the 17th. It could have been worse for the German though as he sank a 12-foot putt to avoid dropping more than just the single stroke, having found the water with his second shot, which was short and slid off the bank.

Simon Dyson ends with a two-under-par 70 after sinking a lengthy putt to birdie the 18th hole. Kyung-Tae Kim is also having a solid round, sinking a lengthy putt for birdie on the 14th to also go to two-under.

The first round of the Nedbank Senior Challengeends with four golfers – David Frost, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam tied for the lead on three-under. Tom Lehman is on two-under and Mark Calcavecchia (-1) is the only other golfer under par.

2.58pm– Luke Donald crashes out of the lead with a double bogey on the par-four 17th. Off the tee, he finds the water that lurks all the way along the left, reloads and then misses a 12-foot putt for bogey.

The Englishman therefore goes to the final hole on two-under-par, with Schwartzel, Kaymer and Karlsson on three-under.

2.45pm– Charl Schwartzel is back on the charge, with four birdies in five holes after his disaster at the ninth taking him to three-under-par, one shot behind leader Luke Donald.

On the par-five 14th hole, his drive is again poor, but he gets his second back on the fairway and then hits a magnificent third shot from close to 200 metres out to within 10 feet of the flag to set up his third birdie in a row.

In the Nedbank Senior Challenge, Tom Lehman double-bogeys his last hole to tumble out of the lead. Lehman finishes with a two-under-par 70, slipping behind Ian Woosnam, David Frost, Bernhard Langer and Nick Price, who are all on three-under.

2.16pm– Graeme McDowell birdies the par-five 10th hole to go to three-under and a share of the lead.

2pmKarlsson’s drive on the par-four 13th hole is wayward, into the trees on the right side of the fairway. But the lanky Swede plays a remarkable second shot, hacking an iron on to the green. But Karlsson then leaves his first putt 12 feet short of the hole and slightly pulls the par-putt – three-putt for bogey, what a pity after that great second shot out of the bushes.

He is not the only golfer to be punished for a wayward drive though – Luke Donald had to take a drop on the eighth hole after going way into the trees, ending up with a bogey. But the world number one began to prosper after the turn and once the rain stopped, birdieing the 10th and 11th holes to move back to three-under-par and a share of the lead.

Charl Schwartzel is less fortunate, making a double bogey seven on the ninth.

South Africa’s hope is deep in the rough off the tee, chips out but is still in the rough. He then goes for the green with his third shot, but plonks it in the water.

South Korea’s Kyung-Tae Kim also finds the water on the ninth, but an excellent fourth shot out of the drop zone sees him salvage par.

Martin Kaymer, meanwhile, goes steadily to three-under and a share of the lead with back-to-back birdies on the par-five 10th and 11th holes.

Meanwhile, in the Nedbank Senior Challenge, 1987 Million Dollar champion Ian Woosnam eagles the par-five 10th hole and then birdies the 16th to draw level with Tom Lehman in the lead on four-under. Bernhard Langer, Nick Price and David Frost are all on three-under.

1.08pm– Karlsson is just over the green for two on the par-five ninth hole, but can’t make birdie. That means he can’t hold off the intriguing Jason Dufner, who strokes in a little five-foot putt for birdie at the fifth hole to join Karlsson on three-under. The American also birdied the par-four first hole – the only player to do so thus far today – and the par-three fourth.

Just to make things more interesting, light rain is starting to fall over the Gary Player Country Club.

12.38pm– A bemused Graeme McDowell has to settle for a par on the third hole as his putt from just off the green teeters on the edge of the hole. Even when the flag is removed it doesn’t drop! The jovial Northern Irishman waits and waits, but the ball won’t budge and eventually he taps it in with the side of the putter, staying on one-under-par overall. His 25ft birdie putt on the fourth is also left agonisingly short of the hole!

12.33pm– Francesco Molinari three-putts the par-four third hole for a bogey, but returns to two-under-par as he curls in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-three fourth.

Charl Schwartzel holes a lengthy putt on the same hole for his first birdie of the tournament.

12.13pm– The shot of the day thus far as Francesco Molinari holes his approach shot on the par-five second hole, spinning a wedge back into the hole for a superb eagle!

Lee Westwood has begun the defence of his title by finding the right-hand fairway on the first hole.

Martin Kaymer also birdies the second hole – just about everybody is these days! – to go to one-under.

In the Nedbank Senior Challenge, Bernhard Langer leads on three-under-par through eight holes. David Frost is on two-under and Tom Lehman on one-under-par.

11.47am– Robert Karlsson sets the early pace and comes close to achieving the first hole-in-one in Sun City history!

The Swede’s tee shot on the par-three fourth hole curls beautifully towards the hole, stopping just a foot away. The inevitable birdie takes Karlsson to three-under-par after birdies on the second and third holes as well, on both occasions set up by fine approah shots.

Anders Hansen collects the fourth birdie of the day on the second hole. His second shot was just over the green, on to the left semi-rough, but he nearly sinks his chip and then makes a comfortable putt for birdie. Luke Donald and Simon Dyson also picked up shots on the 520-metre par-five.

Darren Clarke, meanwhile, makes the first bogey of the day as he three-putts the first hole.

11.10am– The Nedbank Golf Challenge gets underway with Robert Karlsson teeing off and finding the fairway. Simon Dyson, however, sends his drive left, the ball bounding off into the bushes – heading towards Lost City!

Dyson plays a wonderful second shot, however, and manages to make his par, as does Karlsson.

Meanwhile, in the Nedbank Senior Challenge, David Frost sinks a massive 45ft putt on the third to take the lead on two-under-par.

Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, Nick Price – after a fabulous approach shot a foot from the flag on the second – and Mark O’Meara, who sank a lengthy birdie putt on the second, are all on one-under.

It is not every day that someone compares a golf tournament to the Masters at Augusta, but for Simon Dyson, making his debut at Sun City for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, it feels like his first time in the prestigious major.”It’s the prestige of this tournament that makes it so exciting for me, just to be invited is a big honour. It was a helluva eight-week spell capped by this invite, which is a massive honour,” Dyson said on the eve of the tournament.

“I grew up watching this tournament on TV and it’s like when I first played in the Masters in 2009. To see the holes you’ve always looked at on TV, it’s unbelievable just to stand there.

“I’ve always played really well in Hong Kong, which is this week, and I got invited to the Chevron World Challenge too, but the minute this invitation came through, there was no comparison. My flight was booked in 24 hours,” Dyson said.

While missing the cut in last week’s South African Open at the Serengeti Golf Estate was a blow to Dyson’s momentum, he is a form golfer, lying ninth on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

The eight-week spell he referred to was between the Open Championship in July and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the beginning of October. In that time, Dyson finished tied for ninth in the Open and the Dunhill Links, won the Irish and KLM Opens, and finished in the top 20 at the European Masters and the Johnnie Walker Championship.

The 33-year-old adds character to the field as he is not scared to wear his heart on his sleeve and show his emotions. He is also in wonderful physical shape – having enlisted the help of a trainer and dietician – and extremely accurate with his irons.

He’s a top-class golfer who just needs a break or two to become a rare debutant winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

“If I drive like I have the last few months, then hopefully I’ll have a good chance. From tee to green I’m good, and I’ve got my putting stroke back after a lot of work. I’m playing well, I’m just not scoring as well as I’m playing. But one week it might just click … ” Dyson warned.

Dyson blames a torrid time on the undulating Serengeti greens for last week’s missed cut.

“The way I played last week, I was very disappointed to miss the cut. I missed only four greens in 36 holes, but I’ve never seen greens like that anywhere else in the world. I’ve never had an eight-foot putt with a double break in it before. The putts just kept slipping past the hole,” the Englishman said.

Yorkshireman Dyson is in the same ISM camp as Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, and manager Chubby Chandler is in no doubt as to his ability.

“I can see Simon finishing next year in the top 15. You get into that position because you’re winning the big tournaments.

“He knows now that he has earned the right to play in all of these great tournaments, and that knowledge makes such a difference. For instance, he would go to the Players’ Championship and think ‘I don’t belong out here’. Now he can go to the Players’ Championship thinking he not only deserves to be there but can have a big impact.

“That is because Simon is a prolific player and he relishes being in the hunt,” Chandler told the Yorkshire Post recently.

In his first appearance at Sun City, Dyson will certainly have all the desire in the world to make his mark on an event that has clearly made such an impression on him.

They may be two of the world’s top three golfers, but for Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the Nedbank Golf Challenge starting at Sun City on Thursday is one of their most sought-after titles of the year.The world number one and number three have invitations to play all over the world and both have an eye on the richest prize in golf – next week’s European Tour finale, the Dubai World Championship.But for Donald and Westwood, their annual Sun City visit is planned months in advance.

“I’m always excited to be here and I always look forward to the tournament. It’s a great event, Africa’s Major as they like to call it, not like just any other event,” world number one Donald, on his fifth visit to Gary Player Country Club, said on Wednesday.

For Westwood, last year’s triumph was one of his most treasured.

“It’s a great course, a great field and a great spot. It’s a very important tournament because a good week here can kick things off for you, especially in terms of confidence.

“Everyone remembers who wins at Sun City and it’s nice to be back as defending champion and having played so well last year,” Westwood said.

Donald will be eager to deny his fellow Englishman his second successive title and valuable world golf ranking points that would see Westwood narrow the gap between them.

Westwood had gone to number one shortly before last year’s tournament but Donald overtook him in May when he beat Westwood in a playoff to win the PGA Championship at Wentworth in May. Donald has maintained a firm grip in the top spot since then with a stellar year that sees him on top of both the U.S. PGA and European Tour money lists.

“Lee played extremely well here last year and won by a number of shots [7]. It’s always exciting to go up against him and we’ve had some good head-to-heads, although I went one up on him at Wentworth. He’s got the better of me too, so it’s a friendly rivalry.

“There are also world ranking points on offer here, so it’s a good opportunity which I’ll try my best to take,” Donald said.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has always had a magical allure for the English, the television beaming golf in hot tropical sunshine into their living rooms while winter extends her icy grip over their country.

The third Englishman in the field, Simon Dyson, is on his first visit to Sun City and the world number 31 should not be underestimated, despite missing the cut at last week’s South African Open.

“I really like the course, it suits my eye and I like that you have to play both types of shot, left and right. If I drive like I have the last few months, then hopefully I’ll have a good chance.

“The way I played last week, I was very disappointed to miss the cut. I missed only four greens in 36 holes, but I’ve never seen greens like that anywhere else in the world. I’ve never had an eight-foot putt with a double break in it before.

“From tee to green I’m good, and got my putting stroke back after a lot of work. I’m playing well, I’m just not scoring as well as I’m playing. But one week it might just click … ” Dyson warned.

Another debutant, world number four Martin Kaymer, might also be a good pick for the Sun City punters, the German making his traditional strong finish to the year with victory in the HSBC World Golf Championship event in Shanghai a month ago and performing well in the World Cup last week.

But the Nedbank Golf Challenge fundis reckon debutants struggle at Sun City – Mark McNulty (1986) and Bernhard Langer (1985) are the only golfers to win on debut since Ray Floyd’s 1982 victory in the first proper 10-man Million Dollar Challenge.

Charl Schwartzel, the only South African in the field and someone with an intimate knowledge of the course, must also be one of the favourites.

“I don’t feel any extra pressure on me as the only South African, there may be a little more expectation, but it doesn’t feel any different to me than any other tournament golf event. But I would like to keep the flag flying high and it will be nice to have the crowd behind me,” Schwartzel said.

“I’ve worked really hard all year on my body, I haven’t lost any consistency in my swing and I feel I’ll be more than capable of winning when I tee it up tomorrow.”

It is off the tees where the likes of Westwood, Schwartzel and Kaymer could be favoured because the rough is not “up” this year at the Gary Player Country Club. Long hitters like Robert Karlsson and Graeme McDowell can be added to that list.

“It’s the coldest I’ve ever been on the course today and the ball just didn’t seem to go so far. The fairways are a lot softer too, the ball just stops dead, not like last year when it ran for 40 yards,” Westwood said.

“The rough is not up too much but it’s still a tough driving course, you need to drive solid. Lee is known as one of the best in that department, so it sets up nicely for him,” Donald agreed.

And for a dark horse? How about Denmark’s Anders Hansen, who has soared up the world rankings this year to number 33.