Golf: Record breaker MacKenzie

Sheffield’s Malcolm Mackenzie fired a brilliant course-record 63 in the final round of the South African Open.

Mackenzie teed off at 7:31am local time at five over par, joint 63rd of the 72 remaining players and 15 shots off the lead.

Just a few hours later the 39-year-old was sitting pretty in the clubhouse on four under par and currently in a tie for seventh, enjoying watching the leaders struggle as the wind freshened.

Mackenzie, who lost his card last year and had to return to the tour school to retain his playing rights securing the sixth card at San Roque took advantage of the calmer morning conditions and got off to a flying start.

Birdies at the first three holes were followed by two more at the fifth and seventh to be out in 31.

And four more followed on the inward half to complete a 63 that equalled his best ever round on tour and a possible top 10 finish.

A change in the wind direction had made a huge difference to some of the holes, Mackenzie’s birdie on the par three 17th coming after a tee shot with a pitching wedge instead of yesterday’s four-iron.