Els takes early advantage with 64

South African Ernie Els lead by two shots after the first round of the Heineken Classic in Melbourne, after shooting a brilliant eight-under round of 64.

It was a day of red-hot scoring at Royal Melbourne with 51 of the 156 players having below par rounds on the composite course.

Playing in the second last group, Welshman Mark Pilkington made the most of the Melbourne evening to finish with a bogey-free six-under 66.

At five-under are a group of five players including Australian Adam Scott. Scott, like Els enjoyed the Melbourne morning calm to finish with a 67.

Els went within one shot of equalling Ian Baker-Finch’s course record after teeing off at the 10th tee at 7:40am Melbourne time. It was an up-and-down start from the dual US Open champion who bogeyed his second after he birdied the first.

But he was quickly on the road to recovery with three further birdies on his outward nine to post a 33. A sensational start to his back nine with four birdies in five holes set Els up for a great score and a birdie on the last put the icing on a excellent eight-under round.

Els only missed only one green in regulation today, giving credence to his suggestion during the week that this was a ‘second-shot’ golf course.

Els’ touch on the greens also proved decisive, sinking several long putts. He said his caddy had picked up on a small anomaly in his putting stroke during the week, which big Ernie has worked to alleviate.

Also having a golden day with the putter was English veteran Nick Faldo who shot a five-under 67. Faldo’s round included a bogey, four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 second. Faldo only had 27 putts on the tough afternoon greens.

Faldo described his round as scrambling, and admitted there was room for improvement before his 7:30 am tee-time in the morning.

“I need to go out feeling more confident in my swing,” Faldo said, “I struggled at the end a bit.”

Faldo’s playing partner Peter Lonard had a 67 as well. His round also included an eagle but his came at the tenth and was part of a superb back nine of 32.

New Zealander Eddie Lee, playing in the very last group was the other player to finish with a 67.

At four-under were Els’ playing partners, Michael Campbell and Craig Parry. They were part of a group of six players, four shots off the lead

The crowds flocked to Royal Melbourne early to get a glimpse of a group of young stars containing Scott, Aaron Baddeley and Justin Rose.

While the young Englishman finished with a 71, Baddeley finished one shot better after shooting three birdies and a bogey in his round.

Greg Norman’s and John Daly’s groups attracted the biggest crowds in the afternoon with ‘The Shark’ finishing three-under while Daly slipped back late in his round to one-under.

The shot of the day came from New Zealander David Smail who followed up an eagle on his 11th (the 2nd) with a hole-in-one at the 161-metre par-3, third.

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