GOLF/Sun City Challenge: A flawless round of 67 from Darren Clarke gave him the outright lead in a star-studded 12-man field at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City yesterday.

The Ulsterman's five-under-par total at the Gary Player Country Club put him one ahead of American Jim Furyk, the only other player not to drop a shot on the opening day of the €3.5-million event.

Clarke, whose 2005 season was significantly affected by wife Heather's illness, found form on the notoriously tricky Bermuda grass greens with just 26 putts in his round, starting with a birdie at the par-four third.

He picked up further shots at the 450-yard eighth and long ninth to turn in 33 before further back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th saw him edge ahead of Furyk for the outright lead.

The American played regulation golf to the turn but exploded with three birdies in five holes after the turn, finishing with a three at the 459-yard 18th.

Clarke revealed the key to his success stemmed from his game plan from the tee box.

"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.

"I made very few mistakes out there and I didn't short-side myself. I maybe had another couple of birdie chances but I'm not going to complain with a 67."

England's Luke Donald is two under after a round of 70, level with South Africans Retief Goosen and Tim Clark.

Goosen, the defending champion, had five birdies and three bogeys, which was better than compatriot Ernie Els whose first competitive round after five months included three birdies and three bogeys for a level-par 72.

Els, who has slipped one behind Goosen to fifth in the world rankings because of his injury-enforced absence, was making his long-awaited comeback from surgery in the summer after a water sports accident.

His rustiness was evident as he bogeyed the first, three-putting from 40 feet, but he clawed that shot back, somewhat fortuitously, with a four at the 520-yard second.

Having blocked his drive right he was given a free drop because of a television tower that was in his line of sight and he managed to net a birdie.

He bogeyed the short seventh but birdies at 15th and 17th put him under par for the first time in his round only for a poor chip to cost him a shot at the last.

"It was the good, the bad and the ugly. I hit some good shots but it was an awkward round," said Els.

"There were some tough flag positions out there, but the course is set up really well. If you play properly you can get birdies.

"I'm not despondent. If I get everything together, I can shoot low tomorrow."

Els admitted his left knee had been a concern. "I did feel anxious because I've done a lot of practising but you've still got to take it out on the course. It actually stood up really well."

 First Round - (Irl and Brit unless stated, par 72):

67 - Darren Clarke (NIrl)

68 - Jim Furyk (USA)

70 - Tim Clark (Rsa), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Luke Donald

71 - Angel Cabrera (Arg)

72 - Chris DiMarco (USA), Ernie Els (Rsa), Adam Scott (Aus)

73 - Stewart Cink (USA)

74 - Sergio Garcia (Spa)

76 - Kenny Perry (USA).