Ernie Els had a superb bogey-free seven-under-par 65 on Friday in the first round of the PGA Tour Champions Chubb Classic at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

It was a brilliant front nine for the Big Easy as he turned in five-under-par 30, and he birdied 13 and 18 on his way home to be in a share of third. The lead was held by Paul Goydos of the United States and Bernhard Langer of Germany at eight-under-par 64.

Els shared third with Duffy Waldorf and Dicky Pride of the United States. One shot further back on six-under-par 66 was Retief Goosen, together with Americans Scott Dunlap, John Huston and Justin Leonard.