SA OPEN - A chance to shine

The 2011 Masters champion is pursuing a first SA Open title and got his bid underway with a blistering start at Glendower Golf Club.

Schwartzel lagged one shot behind England's Andy Sullivan at the start of the round, but an eight-shot swing over the first four holes altered the landscape in dramatic fashion.

The world number 31 holed out from 50ft for a birdie start, knocked in a six-footer on the second and drained a 20-foot putt at the third before he nearly pitched his approach at the first in the hole for eagle.

In stark contrast, Sullivan bogeyed the first four holes to give the 30-year-old Schwartzel plenty of breathing space.

Sullivan botched trap shot opportunity at the first, found the water at the second, missed the green at the third and took a five at the fourth after landing in a divot in the middle of the fairway.

The 27-year-old from Nuneaton signed off with a 74 to finish in the eight-man bus at six under par alongside South Africa's Branden Grace (69) and Richard Sterne (69), as well as two-time Alfred Dunhill champion Pablo Martin Benavides from Spain, among others.

Meanwhile Schwartzel continued his march, following a bogey at the seventh with back-to-back birdies before the turn and surrounding a bogey at the 13th with birdies at the 12th and 14th.

England rookie Matthew Fitzpatrick hit his stride on the back nine and romped home in 30 strokes with four birdies and an eagle for a 67.

Seasoned Scotsman David Drysdale grabbed a share of second with Fitzpatrick, after rallying from a double bogey at the 10th with five birdies for a 68.

England's Lee Slattery cruised to a flawless 65 to set the low round of the championship and take sole fourth on seven under.

Tournament host Ernie Els continued a topsy-turvy week.

After dropping seven shots in three holes around the turn on Friday and limping home in 77 blows, the Big Easy switched out putters. The change saw the five-time SA Open champion race to the turn in 31 with four birdies and an eagle-three at the eighth, but three bogeys on the back nine put paid to his challenge.

Els signed for a 69 and a share of 20th on three under.