Day one digest: Alfred Dunhill Championship  

Everything you need to know from the first day in South Africa.

The 2020 season kicks off with an ace on the opening day, Coetzee rides his luck and shorts make their first tournament appearance on day one at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday in Malelane.

Wildlife takes centre stage

The golf was of an excellent standard on Thursday, but even Wil Besseling’s brilliant seven under 65 only briefly diverted attention from the real stars of Kruger National Park – the animals. Leopard Creek truly is a unique golf experience.

Coetzee rides his luck

A one over par 73 doesn’t sound like the day’s most exciting round, but there was plenty to enjoy in George Coetzee’s opening effort. The home favourite made four birdies – three of them in succession – three bogeys and a double on the 16th. But it was the decision to putt from a bunker that had people talking.

You make your own luck, and anyone putting from the sand probably deserves to have something good happen to them…

Who wears short shorts?

Maybe not short shorts, but for the first time in European Tour history players were given special dispensation to get their calves out due to the extreme temperatures. And while plenty of the field did go for the casual option, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal stuck with trousers because it made him feel more serious. A six under 66 suggests it paid off for the Spaniard, while England’s Garrick Porteous, who shares second with Larrazabal overnight, also wore trousers – although he admitted afterwards that it was because he’s only packed two pairs of shorts and they were both in the wash.

First ace of the season

You can wait ages for the a hole-in-one, but apparently not at the start of the 2020 season. France’s Adrien Saddier was the man to achieve the feat – his second on the European Tour – holing from 188 yards with a 6 iron on the 16th.

Graduates make their mark

The first event of the 2020 Race to Dubai campaign means plenty of new, and returning faces. Porteous is embarking on his rookie season after coming through Qualifying School, while European Challenge Tour graduate Robin Roussel also found himself in the top ten on day one of his new job courtesy of a four under 68.