Day one digest: South African Open

Everything you need to know from day one at Randpark Golf Club.

Johannes found some joy, home favourites turned on the style and JT (not that one) went toe to toe with a superstar in round one of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at Randpark Golf Club.

Veerman vaults clear

Life looked very different for Johannes Veerman just 54 days ago. The American was five over after two rounds at the Qualifying School and his chances of gaining a European Tour card looked bleak. Rounds of 67-67-66-66 saw him complete a remarkable comeback and just two weeks later he had a top ten at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Another top ten at the Australian PGA Championship made it a very good December and an opening 62 saw him set the pace a the start of a new decade in Johannesburg. "I’ve been practising really hard over the last six or seven months and I’ve been getting better," he said. "To come out and start 2020 playing like this gives me a lot of confidence. It is only the first round but it is a step in the correct direction."

In good Schaper

It's not every day that you get to play your home open as an 18-year-old amateur so to do it in the company of a countryman who has won The Open is something truly special. Well that is what happened to Jayden Trey Schaper on Thursday. In the marquee group playing alongside Louis Oosthuizen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout, he matched the 2010 Champion Golfer of the Year with a 65 to sit just three shots off the lead. "Louis being one of the guys that I've always looked up to watching on TV, that Open," he said. "I didn't ever think I would get the opportunity to play with him in a tournament, it just makes it so special."

Finishing in style

Birdie-birdie-birdie and then...........

.......eagle. Rourke van der Spuy is just two off the lead.

Amazing Grace

Branden Grace was showing he meant business early on as he took the aggressive 'Tiger' line off the tee.

And then on the back nine he showed his deft touch with these.

The home hero is seven under.

Rasmus on a roll

After coming through the Qualifying School, Rasmus Højgaard wasted no time in winning the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open to become the third youngest victor in European Tour history. He showed no signs of a hangover from his triumph or the festive break on Thursday as the 18-year-old fired a 65 to get right in the mix. Life is good for the Dane.