Thorbjørn Olesen picked up where he left off at the tail end of last season on his return to DP World Tour action at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The Dane hit form towards the climax of the 2024 Race to Dubai with a run of three top tens in his last four starts to finish 13th on the season-long standings.
That earned him dual membership status for the second year running as one of ten players who were not already exempt on the PGA TOUR in 2025.
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Which DP World Tour members earned 2025 PGA TOUR dual membership?
And his confidence was in full display as he posted a three-under 69 to sit in a share of third place after the first round of the Opening Swing event in South Africa.
"I feel like I work pretty hard but that does not always mean you play well," he said.
"I didn't play well in the summer obviously, but I felt lkike I was working pretty hard and just didn't get anything out of it.
"I felt like I stayed pretty patient and all of a sudden I had a couple of good weeks and got on a nice run. It's been a lot better."
Olesen, the World Number 72, is making his fifth appearance at Africa's Major and third in as many years this week.
The 34-year-old finished third at Sun City last year and is again enjoying the challenge at the Gary Player Country Club.
"It's a tricky course, especially when it gets a bit windy," he reflected. "The wind swirls a lot here.
"Obviously the greens are very small so you have to be very precise. You can get in trouble very easily on this course.
"Every hole has some bad places to be so it is interesting. It is always fun to be here, it is a beautiful place."
