R1 LEADERBOARD -5 D Clarke (NI) -4 J Furyk (US) -2 T Clark (SA), L Donald (GB), R Goosen (SA) -1 A Cabrera (Arg) Level C DiMarco (US), E Els (SA), A Scott (Aus) +1 S Cink (US) +2 S Garcia (Sp) +4 K Perry (US)

Els, playing in his first event since surgery to repair knee ligaments he tore in July, had three birdies and three bogeys in an opening 72.

Clarke is on five under, one shot ahead of Jim Furyk, after carding a flawless 67 in a round containing five birdies.

Luke Donald is on two under together with defending champion Retief Goosen.

Goosen had a mixed round on a sweltering day in Sun City, claiming five birdies and three bogeys.

England's Donald started well with two birdies in his opening two holes but despite claiming three more, bogeys at the fifth, eighth and 17th pegged him back.

I played well enough to give me hope for the rest of the week Ernie Els

Spaniard Sergio Garcia bogeyed three of his opening five holes before pulling back two shots at the 11th and the 15th.

However a bogey at the last left him on two over and with a lot of work to do.

Clarke showed that he is in good form in the 25th staging of the event with three birdies on the front nine, with the help of two 20-foot putts, before gaining shots at the 13th and 14th.

"My number one goal was to hit the fairways with my tee-shots and I pretty much did that," he said.

"But the key was hitting the ball straight and making sure I was up on the green in two.

"The greens are so perfect that if you're within 20 feet and below the hole the putt's got a chance."

Els was satisfied with his opening round and expressed relief that his comeback round was now behind him.

"I was a bit apprehensive after such a long break from the game," he said. "But although there was a touch of the good, the bad and the ugly out there, I played well enough to give me hope for the rest of the week.

"I'm not out of it, and that's important.

"My knee stood up really well, I've practised a lot but you still have to take it out on the course."