On safari at Africa's Major: Max Homa part of leading quartet at the Nedbank Golf Challenge

The American carded a six under 66 around Gary Player Golf and Country Club, enough for a share of the lead with Nicolai Hojgaard, Dan Bradbury and Vincent Norrma.

Homa played solid, risk-free golf, finishing bogey-free on a course he barely had time to get accustomed to because of adverse weather.

"I learned I can be uncomfortable and play well, which is cool," the world number eight told pgatour.com.

"Sometimes golfers, and myself in particular, try to feel as perfect as possible going into events and I felt far from that.

"I knew it wasn't going to be perfect so I think I had a nice game plan and tried to settle me into feeling a little bit off out there and almost dumb it down a little bit. That’s what I learned.

"I've just got to keep the ball in front of me and do my best to limit mistakes, like I did today."

Homa, who also went on a safari trip with Justin Thomas last weekend to make the most of his time in Africa, described it as "life-changing". A cold putter would see Thomas finish with an even-par 72.

Meanwhile, Bradbury, who won his first DP World Tour title in the Joburg Open last November on only his third start as a professional, ended his round in amazing style by holing from 75 feet for an eagle on the ninth, his final hole.

"Just a very solid day," said the 24-year-old.

"Got off to a good start, a few birdies early on and then dropped one, which kind of annoyed me, so I had a bit of a point to prove after that, and that finish was quite nice.

"I had 260 [yards] to the pin but obviously we're not looking anywhere near that flag, just trying to get it on the green and two-putt to be totally honest and then 75 feet I had for my stats, that’s a nice bonus."

Finally, Tommy Fleetwood faces an uphill battle to complete a hat-trick of victories. The Englishman, who can join an elite group – including the likes of Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo – by winning the same DP World Tour event three times in succession, could only manage an opening 71 in Sun City.

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