SUN CITY, South Africa — Defending champion Max Homa birdied his final two holes to shoot a 6-under 66 and take a one-shot lead over South African Ockie Strydom within the first spherical of the Nedbank Golf Problem on Thursday.
Homa began his spherical with three straight birdies and had two extra on the entrance 9. He dropped two pictures with bogeys on the again 9.
Strydom’s opening spherical of 67 included 4 birdies, an eagle and a bogey.
After lacking out on qualifying for the Tour Championship in August, Homa had made simply two tour-level begins. Final 12 months, he grew to become the fifth American to raise the trophy in South Africa.
The six-time PGA Tour winner is making an attempt to grow to be the eighth participant to efficiently defend his title on the event – and the primary American to do it since Jim Furyk in 2006.
Homa is amongst three gamers within the discipline who’re ranked within the prime 50, together with Corey Conners – who opened with a 72 – and Thriston Lawrence, who shot a 71.
The sector additionally contains American Will Zalatoris, who had a 74 after a double bogey on the par-4 thirteenth gap.
