AdvertisementAdvertisementFILE PHOTO: Golf - The 150th Open Championship - Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain - July 14, 2022 Amateur, England's Sam Bairstow tees off the 3rd during the first round REUTERS/Phil Noble/File PhotoFILE PHOTO: Golf - The 152nd Open Championship - Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Scotland, Britain - July 17, 2024 South Africa's Darren Fichardt during practice REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File Photo28 Feb 2025 02:44AM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST Fredrik From, Sam Bairstow and Darren Fichardt share the lead at seven under-par after bad light cut short the opening day of the DP World Tour’s South African Open at the Durban Country Club on Thursday, with Fichardt still to complete his first round.The course was under huge puddles of water on Wednesday and the start of the first round was delayed by three hours, leaving a host of golfers to complete their rounds.From carded two eagles in his 65, both on par fives, while Bairstow managed eight birdies, his round only spoiled by a dropped shot on the par-four seventh.Fichardt is also seven under-par with four holes to play, and there are a further five golfers a shot back from the leaders."I putted really nicely. I hit a few wedges close and then holed a few putts. It was just a good day," Bairstow said."Yesterday, walking down the 16th I thought there was no chance (of playing on Thursday morning) but credit to the green staff for the work they've done and getting it playable."Around half of the 156-player field need to complete their opening rounds on Friday.The South African Open is one of golf’s oldest national championships having first been played in 1903.Source: ReutersSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST