Furyk steals lead after Stenson slip

America’s Jim Furyk made an early bid to steal the lead from Henrik Stenson after the Swede made an early slip in the second round of the Nedbank Challenge in Sun City.

Stenson carded a bogey six at the second hole – the same place where he made a birdie yesterday on his way to a five-under-par 67.

It was Ryder Cup star Stenson’s first bogey of the tournament after a flawless round on day one and Furyk was quick to take full advantage.

He shot three at the third to go one-under par for the round and replace his 30-year-old rival at the top of the leaderboard.

Stenson moved back to five under with a first birdie of the day at the sixth but Furyk did not stutter and a second birdie at the short seventh hole saw him regain pole position on six under par.

Ernie Els also looked ominous, shrugging off his par-72 on the opening day to record four birdies and reach the turn in 32.

Successive birdies on the second and third holes were an early indicator of his intentions and two more at the seventh and the ninth brought the South African firmly into contention on four under par.

On-form Irishman Padraig Harrington – round in 69 yesterday – picked up a birdie when he holed in three at the 424-yard sixth hole to move to four under.