JOHANNESBURG (AP) A late afternoon charge gave Matthew Nixon an 8-under 64 and a one-shot lead in the first round of the South African Open on Thursday, the start of the 2014 European Tour.
Two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel are also in early contention at their home tournament.
Nixon was one of the last players to finish, but the Englishman ended with birdie, eagle, par to knock Italy's Marco Crespi and South African Jbe Kruger off the top of the leaderboard at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg.
Goosen began with a 66 to tie for third at 6 under, while Schwartzel shot 67. Schwartzel's younger brother, Attie, a pro on South Africa's Sunshine Tour, matched his more famous sibling to also share sixth place at 5 under par.
Goosen is still recovering from back surgery in 2012 that wiped out most of his last two seasons, and made steady progress on Thursday with seven birdies and just one dropped shot at the par-3 No. 6.