Louis Oosthuizen was the leading South African after round one of The Players Championship in Florida on Thursday.
Chasing his second PGA Tour title, Oosthuizen opened with a three under par 69 to sit two shots off the lead held by Mackenzie Hughes and William McGirt.
A birdie at 2 and a bogey on 8 saw Oosthuizen turn in 36 but a trio of birdies in succession starting at 14 helped move the one-time Major winner steadily up the field as the afternoon field struggled to cope with conditions.
Branden Grace is the only other South African under par after Thursday as he made three birdies and two bogeys to finish with a -1 71 for his efforts. Grace is T32 and far from out of contention at this point.
Veteran campaigner Ernie Els is in 83rd spot after opening with a 74. It could’ve been much worse for the iconic golfer after an opening 40 saw him move quickly in the wrong direction. Els’ disastrous front nine included a triple bogey 7 on the fourth hole.
Els then kept his nerve and like Oosthuizen posted three successive birdies finishing that run with a 2 on the infamous island green at 17. He arrived on the 18th tee one over par but a closing bogey saw him sign for a 74.
Tyrone van Aswegen is one shot further back while South Africa’s top-ranked player Charl Schwartzel has plenty to do after firing a 76 on Thursday.
