Former paratrooper Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand fired a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a three-shot first-round lead in the Volvo Golf Champions.
South Africans Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen share second place in a tournament confined to 2012 European Tour winners or golfers with more tban 10 career triumphs on the circuit.
Scots Scott Jamieson, Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay are third on 69 with Jamie Donaldson of Wales, Dane Thomas Bjorn, Jeev Mikha Singh of India and Englishman Danny Willett.
Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry shot 70s with Robert Rock of England and Italian Francesco Molinari on a windy day at the 6,111-metre Durban Country Club in this Indian Ocean city.
Defending champion Branden Grace, the South African who won five times on the European Tour last season, opened with a three-over 75 to trial paceseetter Thongchai by 10 strokes.
“I enjoyed the course which requires you to think a lot,” said the 43-year-old Thai.
“I used a driver only twice and found a three iron I put in my bag just before teeing off very useful.”