Els hits top form Down Under

Ernie Els today shot a remarkable 12-under-par round of 60 to open the defence of his title at the Heineken Classic in superb fashion.

The 34-year-old had flirted with a magical 59, but a dropped shot on 15 cost him the chance of joining only three other men in breaking the 60-barrier.

Al Geiberger was the first, shooting 59 at the Memphis Classic in 1977; followed by Chip Beck at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991 and David Duval at the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Women’s number one Annika Sorenstam also achieved the feat in an LPGA event at the Moon Valley Country Club, Phoenix in 2001.

After Els had blitzed the front nine today in just 29 strokes, it was apparent something special was in making.

The record books were then dug out as the South African, in windless, dry conditions followed up an eagle on the ninth with five consecutive birdies.

He had missed a comfortable birdie putt on seven and was then left to rue his only dropped shot of the round on 15.

After driving through the fairway, Els overhit his approach and missed his putt for par.

Although he hauled himself back onto 12-under-par immediately with his 11th birdie of the round, he could not fashion another and finished with consecutive pars.

Els needed only 25 putts and made 17 out of 18 greens in regulation to become only the fifth man on the European Tour to card a 60 on a par-72 course.

He beat his own previous best round of 61, shot at the Dubai Desert Classic in 1994, and set a new course record at Royal Melbourne.

Els will head into the second round with a four-shot lead over New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who had scored a faultless eight-under-par round of 64 earlier in the day.