Alfred Dunhill Championship - Day one digest

Friday, 13 December 2024

Everything you need to know from the opening round at Leopard Creek Country Club.

A familiar face stormed to the summit, while a home hero made a hole-out eagle on day one of the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from the opening round at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Sullivan leads the way

Andy Sullivan continued his love affair with South Africa as he posted a spotless 64 to lead by one shot after 18 holes. Starting from the tenth tee in the morning, Englishman Sullivan - who won his first two DP World Tour titles in South Africa in 2015 - made four birdies on his front nine before adding four more on the way home, producing some nice par saves along the way to keep his card clean. He said: "It's important to get off to a good start because you know at the weekend it's going to get tougher and tougher. This place generally doesn't get easier so getting off to a good start's nice, gives you that little bit of a buffer, but you know you're in for a serious grind over the next couple of days."

Jarvis' fabulous fightback

Casey Jarvis did not get off to the best of starts on Thursday. Kicking off his tournament from the tenth tee, the home favourite covered the first two holes in three over par after following up an opening bogey with a double bogey on the 11th. But he was able to steady himself and get the shots straight back with a birdie at the 12th and an eagle on the 13th. He then went on to make another eagle, six further birdies and one more bogey to sign for a roller-coaster 65.

No putter required for Schwartzel

Home hero Charl Schwartzel knows what it takes to play well at this event, having won it four times. And he produced some of his very best golf at the 14th with this hole-out eagle from the fairway...