Louis Oosthuizen started the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession with a three-under-par 69 on Thursday to take up a share of 13th after the first round.
He made six birdies and three bogeys after opening with a bogey on his first hole – the 10th. But he made four of his birdies ahead of the turn and then closed out his homeward nine with two birdies and two bogeys. He was three shots off the pace set by Webb Simpson and Matthew Fitzpatrick. They in turn had a stroke over Brooks Koepka, Billy Horschel, Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner.
Next best of the six South Africans in the 71-man field were Erik van Rooyen, Brandon Stone and Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Van Rooyen had an eagle, two birdies and three bogeys in his one-under 71, Stone four birdies and three bogeys and Bezuidenhout five birdies and four bogeys.
It was a tough day for many players, with world number one Dustin Johnson slumping to an uncharacteristic five-over 77. Also carding a 77 were Bryson DeChambeau and Bubba Watson.
The other two South Africans were Daniel van Tonder and JC Ritchie. Sunshie Tour Order of Merit winner Ritchie had two double-bogeys in his six-over-par 78, and Van Tonder had a pitch-in eagle on his way to a four-over 76.
