Sand no obstacle for Els

Ernie Els matched Tiger Woods shot for shot at the start of the United States Open today – but not by the same route.

While defending champion Woods hit the first two fairways Els was in a bunker each time, one left and then one right, but still managed to make the green and two-putt for par.

Then it was the world number one’s turn to leak a drive a bit off the 12th tee - they began on the back nine at Olympia Fields near Chicago – but he still got away with a four on the 458-yard hole.

Another South African, Rory Sabbatini, showed what was possible on an overcast morning.

Winner of the Capital Open in Maryland on Monday, the tournament having spilled into an extra day because of bad weather, Sabbatini opened with a 30-foot eagle putt on the 576-yard first and immediately jumped into a one-stroke lead over a group which included Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who birdied the 400-yard second.