Stenson rises to the challenge with a super 63 in Sun City

In-form Swede forges five shots clear of the field after nine-under-par round

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Sweden’s Henrik Stenson scorched the Gary Player Country Club course in 63 strokes to take a commanding lead in the first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.

The tall Swede mixed accurate tee shots with precision putting for a nine-under-total score to tie the course record set by Ernie Els in the final round of the 2002 event.

Stenson leads by five shots from South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini and is seven clear of England’s Lee Westwood, who signed for a one-bogey 70.

After a lengthy lay-off due to injury, England’s Luke Donald looks to be on the path to recovery.

The world number 28 was steady with a pair of bogeys and birdies for an opening 72 and a share of fourth alongside South Africa's James Kingston, KJ Choi of Korea, world number two Sergio Garcia, of Spain, defending champion Trevor Immelman and Robert Karlsson.

Karlsson, who combined with Stenson for Sweden’s second World Cup victory last week, briefly shared the lead with his team-mate but a double bogey at the 11th put the brakes on his charge.

American Kenny Perry shares 10th place with England's Justin Rose after both players carded 73s, while Spain's Miquel Angel Jimenez carded a 75.

Stenson made his intentions clear with from the onset when he blasted from the blocks with three successive birdies to edge ahead of the field. He made immediate amends for a bogey at the par 3 seventh with back-to-back bogeys to turn in four under but it was on the back nine that the Ryder Cup champion really caught fire.

After a birdie at the 10th, Stenson reeled in a birdie-eagle-birdie set from the 13th to 15th holes before playing the last three holes in par.

It was the best round seen at the Nedbank since Padraig Harrington shot a 61 in 2001 and playing partner Westwood said: “Henrik didn’t miss any fairways and he was red-hot on the greens. He just played outstanding golf.”

Stenson added: “It was a great day. I’ve had some good scores here in the past and it’s a course I like. But it’s a strong field and even though I’ve made some ground on the rest, tomorrow I will have to stick my head down and do my business.

“I only hit one driver today because I had a really strong three wood. I kept hitting the fairways, I hit some great iron shots andputted well. My birdies came in bunches. I started with three birdies and then I had good birdies on eight, nine and 10, and then again on the 13th I started another run of birdies.”