Day one digest: 2022 Steyn City Championship

Everything you need to know from the opening day at The Club at Steyn City.

Du Preez had us on 59 Watch, Norris was loving family life, Lady Luck took a day off and everyone was hunting special shots on day one of the 2022 Steyn City Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday in Johannesburg.

Du Preez sees the bigger picture

James Hart du Preez announced himself on the DP World Tour in spectacular style as he carded a 63 to take a one-shot lead. The huge-hitting South African prompted talk of a 59 when he reached 11 under with two holes to play and despite a bogey-bogey finish, he ended the day at nine under, one shot clear of his countrymen Jaco Ahlers and Shaun Norris and Italian Nino Bertasio. A 59 is one of the rarest achievements in golf but Du Preez was philosophical on the idea of what true pressure is after all that has gone on in the world in the past two years and recent weeks. "With everything that's happening in the world at the moment, for us to be here playing on a fantastic course, shooting 59 is not pressure," he said. "There's a lot more going on, I was just having fun."

Family affair for Norris

Sleepless nights were proving no problem for Norris as the home favourite fired an excellent opening 64. The 39-year-old welcomed his second child - a daughter named Riley-Grace - into the world two weeks ago and although he revealed he was going through all the sleep deprivation that a newborn brings, he was delighted to be back home with his family - and with his brother on the bag to boot. "At the end of the day, my brother and I had a lot of fun, we were smiling and having fun and really enjoying the day," he said. "Even now, with the little one being born two weeks ago, I'm not getting much sleep but overall it's a blessing to be back home to spend time with them and see them and have dinner with them and wake up in the mornings to see them as well."

Maybe if they were Irish...........

It was St Patrick's Day on Thursday and we thought the luck of the Irish might apply to all nations. American Johannes Veerman and England's Laurie Canter discovered that was not the case.

Chase the ace

.....but don't catch it. So close for Zander Lombard.

Chase the albatross

......but don't catch it. An eagle is always nice, though - what a shot George Coetzee.