Webster makes bright start

England’s Steve Webster made the most of a cold and blustery start to the South African Airways Open to join four other European Tour regulars in the early lead at Erinvale this morning.

Webster – who played alongside Welshman Ian Woosnam in the 2003 Seve Trophy, but has done precious little in the past few years – was four-under through 12 holes in overcast conditions to hold a share of the lead.

Alongside him at the top of the leaderboard were German Sven Struver, South African Hennie Otto, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiminez and Australian Brett Rumford.

But breathing down their necks some two shots back were the Scottish duo of Andrew Coltart and Colin Montgomerie, who have also made positive starts to the morning.

Webster, who finished second in 2002 at the SA Open behind Tim Clark and lost in a play-off to Retief Goosen at the Telefonica Open de Madrid in 2001, started off impressively as he birdied the second before carding a magnificent eagle on the third.

His initial joy was shortlived, however, as he double-bogeyed the par-four sixth but came storming back with birdies on nine and 12 to take a share of the lead.

Australian Rumford, who teed off on the 10th, was solid if unspectacular as he went through the halfway point three-under on 33, while Jiminez had an eagle on 13 to show how hungry he is for some title action this weekend.