SA trio five adrift at PGA

Only three of the eight SA players in the field managed to break par on a day where American Dustin Johnson led the way with a six-under par 66 for a one stroke advantage at the top of the leaderboard.

 

The trio of Rory Sabbatini, Ernie Els and Branden Grace all signed for the same one-under 71 to lie five shots off the pace in a tie of 24th upon the completion of the first round.

 

It was Grace who had the best round going of the SA players as he got it to three under with a birdie on the par five 16th, but a disastrous double bogey on the difficult 18th hole dropped the player back to a single shot under par for the day.

 

The six-time European Tour winner reeled off four birdies during his round, with just one bogey and the costly double on his final hole.

 

The favourite among the SA players, Louis Oosthuizen could only manage a level par 72 for a share of 39th. Oosthuizen lost in a playoff for the Open title at St Andrews to American winner Zach Johnson last month, as the player has two successive runner-up finishes in the Majors this year.

 

Charl Schwartzel signed for a one-over 73 for 55th place, George Coetzee ended 71st after his two-over 74 and Tim Clark struggled his way to an opening 75 for a share of 86th.

 

South African-born club professional in America, Johan Kok carded a five-over 77 to lie in 123rd spot

 

ANA