He might be in the field on a special sponsor’s invitation, but Ernie Els was the best of the South Africans after the first round of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Els carded a three-under-par 68 after making a double-bogey on his second hole – the 11th – and he slotted in to a share of 15th, four shots off the lead. Norway’s Viktor Hovland carried good form over from the Masters to lead with a bogey-free seven-under-par 64 when play was suspended with some players only through 15 and 16 holes. Those players included Aaron Rai of England and America’s Jimmy Walker in a share of second on six-under-par. Brian Harman had completed his round and was also on six-under.
Els regained the two early lost strokes with birdies on 14 and 15, and then he made four birdies and a bogey on the front nine on his way in.
Erik van Rooyen signed for a two-under-par 69 to be in a share of 28th, while Christiaan Bezuidenhout carded a level-par 71 and was in a share of 75th. Garrick Higgo was on two-over-par 73 in 110th, and Dylan Frittelli brought up the rear of the field with his nine-over-par 80 leaving him in 141st.
Masters champion John Rahm showed signs of a major championship hangover with his opening round of one-over-par 72.
