(Reuters) - Ernie Els was pleased to finish only a stroke off the early lead after twice falling foul of his course changes in the opening round of the BMW Championship 2006 - The Players' Flagship at Wentworth Club.
The South African birdied the last on the West Course, hit by heavy rain overnight, for a three under par 69.
"It was a good test but if you played properly today, you'd shoot under par," Els said.
With receptive greens, Els believed the course would have been there for the taking in the past.
"The old course, conditions like these, I think you would have seen a 64," Els said. "Today was your scoring opportunity."
Els twice found bunkers. On the sixth, which he has lengthened, he found the bunker with a driver when he used to lay up with a four-iron. On the ninth he went into a new bunker.
After a swing adjustment Els was optimistic he could win Europe's flagship event.
"I felt something on the last couple of holes in the pro-am, then I worked on it on the range and it just clicked.
"I went with that same swing thought and I really felt good, so I'm excited about the week."
