Darren Clarke blazed a trail to the top of the Dimension Data Pro-Am with an opening-day 63.
The Ulsterman used his new driver to devastating effect as he smashed drives of over 300 metres in a round consisting of; eight birdies, an eagle and a bogey at the Lost City Golf Club, which is sharing the first two rounds with the Gary Player Country Club.
Playing in a field which also includes Justin Rose and Nick Price, Clarke started his round at the 10th hole and began with a bogey, but recovered to come home in 34.
After a birdie at the first, he then caught fire with an eagle at the fourth and ended up going out in 29. But as good as Clarke was today, Uli Weinhandl was his equal.
The Austrian, who led the pre-qualifying at Centurion Country Club earlier this week, also carded eight birdies, as well as an eagle at the 11th, to share the lead with the Ulsterman.
England's Mark Foster, who won a six-way play-off last week at the Dunhill Championship in South Africa, is three shots behind Clarke on six under, while Trevor Immelman, also playing the Lost City course, opened with a five-under-par 67.
As for Rose, who started at the first, he turned in 34 with three birdies and a lone bogey at the ninth, before playing par golf on his second nine, except for a birdie at the 12th.
Price, twice a winner of this event in 1997 and 1998, did not drop a shot all day and is also on three under after three birdies.
Of the other Irish contingent competing, Limerick's Tim Rice was faring the best on one-under while Padraig Dooley opened with a three-over 75. Both were playing the Gary Player course.
At the Lost City James Loughnane carded a four-over 76 while Wexford's Damian McGrane has still to complete his round.
PA