Dunhill Championship: Golf: McGinley sets early pace

Paul McGinley quickly shook off six weeks' worth of rust in the early stages of the Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg.

McGinley arrived in South Africa having played just three times since the start of December, and to make matters worse, the Irishman played one practice round at the Houghton Golf Club after his clubs arrived 24 hours late.

All that did not seem to make any difference, however, as McGinley found himself quickly in contention in his first tournament of the season.

Starting on the 10th, the Ryder Cup player birdied the 12th, 16th and 18th to reach the turn in 33, and another birdie on the fifth took him to four under par.

That was just one shot off the early lead being set by the winner of last week's South African Open, Tim Clark, with fellow South African Grant Muller alongside.

Wales' Jamie Donaldson was alongside McGinley on four-under, along with Sweden's Carl Pettersson, who led after the first round in Durban last week.

Former US Open champion Ernie Els was also going well at three-under after 13 holes.

England's Steve Webster however, second behind Clark in Durban, had withdrawn from the event with a stomach bug, joining Paul Lawrie on the sidelines after the former Open champion withdrew on Wednesday night with a back injury.