Nicolas Colsaerts outshone many of his Ryder Cup team-mates to hold a share of the lead after the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
The Belgian European Tour member carded a two under par 70 to sit level with Bill Haas at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
Colsaerts had three birdies and a bogey, while Haas’ round featured five birdies and three bogeys. The American had been on course for a four under round before dropping two shots in his last three holes.
Paul Lawrie, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood, the two time defending champion, were tied for third on one under.
Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Carl Pettersson and Charl Schwartzel were all a shot further back.
Justin Rose, the highest ranked player in the field at four, shot a one over 73 having finished second at the DP World Tour Championship last week thanks to his 10 under par round on the final day.
After birdies going through the first 10 holes in two under, he then bogeyed the next three to drop down the field and finished the day in 11th.
