Sizzling Stenson storms five clear at Sun City

SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) - Henrik Stenson surged five strokes clear of the field with a course record-tying 63 in the Sun City Challenge first round on Thursday.

The big-hitting Swede blended accurate tee shots with precision putting at the Gary Player Country Club to fire his nine-under-par score and equal the record set by Ernie Els in the final round of the 2002 event.

South African Rory Sabbatini was second on 68 with Briton Lee Westwood third on 70.

"It was a great day. I've had some good scores here in the past and it's a course I enjoy," world number 12 Stenson told reporters.

"I didn't know about the record but I wish someone had told me because I would definitely have gone one better."

Stenson, who won last week's World Cup for Sweden alongside Robert Karlsson, reeled off three successive birdies at the start before making amends for a bogey four at the seventh with back-to-back birdies at eight and nine.

After another birdie at the 10th, the Ryder Cup player went birdie-eagle-birdie from the 13th before finishing with three par figures.

"I was a little bit tired coming into the tournament but the birdies came in bunches and I sank a 12-footer on the 13th which started a nice little run," said Stenson, who was runner-up here in 2006 and fourth last year.

ONE DRIVER

"I only hit driver once today but I had a strong 3-wood. I kept hitting the fairways and played some great iron shots and putted well.

"It's a strong field and even though I've opened some ground on them I need to keep my head down tomorrow and stick to business."

Westwood, back in action after having his tonsils out, was not best pleased with his putting.

"I started slowly because I had four weeks off since I had my tonsils out and I've only played four times since the Ryder Cup (in September)," he said. "I felt a little rusty and I wasn't as competitive and sharp as I would have liked.

"I didn't really make any putts today but I expect I'll get better with each round. I just need to sharpen up on the greens because I let myself down there today."

Karlsson, making his debut in the invitational 12-man tournament, was joint fourth on level-par 72 with Briton Luke Donald, South Africa's James Kingston, KJ Choi of South Korea, world number two Sergio Garcia and holder Trevor Immelman.

American Kenny Perry and Briton Justin Rose carded 73s and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez was last on 75.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)