Swedish golfer Martin Erlandsson went from the ridiculous to the sublime when the South African Open began at Pearl Valley today. The 35-year-old from Malmo started the new European Tour season last week by playing his first nine holes of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in an embarrassing 46 shots.

But seven days on Erlandsson produced a blistering eight-under-par 64 that gave him a four-stroke clubhouse lead in the final event of 2009.

Only two under with eight to play, the man who came second in the Johnnie Walker Championship after a closing 62 in August birdied the next three holes and then eagled the 530-yard fifth.

Another birdie came two holes later and by finishing with two pars Erlandsson came home in six-under (30).

Erlandsson’s lead remained four until South African Dawie Van der Walt turned in 32 and then holed his second shot to the 386-yard 10th for his second eagle of the day.

He was second on his own, while Dane Anders Hansen - third last week and leader of the Sunshine Tour money list - hit back from an opening bogey and four birdies and an eagle in the next six holes to stand five under.

Richard Finch, the former Irish Open champion from Hull, was round in 68 alongside South Africans Jacques Blaauw and Thomas Aiken, and Erlandsson’s countryman Michael Jonzon, who saved his Tour career in spectacular fashion in October by winning the Castellon Masters.

They were then joined by Italian World Cup winner Edoardo Molinari, who needs a top eight finish to move into the world’s top 50 just in time to qualify for April’s Masters along with his brother Francesco.

Four birdies in his opening seven holes had given Damien McGrane the lead early in his round, but a double-bogey six at the first, his tenth, undone some of his good work.

He picked up a further birdie at the fifth to sign for a three-under 69.

One shot further back is Michael Hoey, who was also hampered by a double bogey in a roller-coaster round that also included six birdies and two bogeys.

Their woes paled in comparison to Gary Murphy, who ran up a ten at the par-five 10th on his way to a three-over 75, the same score as Gareth Maybin, who lost in a play-off this time last year.

Shane Lowry was having a day to forget as the Irish Open champion found himself six-over with three holes to play.