South Africa's Trevor Immelman grabbed a share of the first-round lead in the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne, despite taking momentary leave of his senses within sight of the finish line.

Immelman arrived at the eighth hole - his 17th - at eight-under par and leading by two shots.

He pulled out a five iron at the relatively straightforward 184m par three and drilled the tee shot into the face of a bunker guarding the front of the green.

Immelman walked away with a doubly bogey, finishing with a six-under par 65, the same score as Australia's Peter Lonard and Steve Webster of England.

"I actually hit a pretty good shot, but it came up 15 yards short," Immelman said.

"Now that I think about it, I don't know what I was trying to do.

"I had to carry it at least 200 yards, and then you've got uphill and the wind was not helping.

"I normally hit my five iron 200 (yards) so I really don't know what I was thinking."

In a tournament that has recently been dominated by fellow South African Ernie Els, Immelman began his round with his countryman's course record of 60 in his sights.

Six birdies in his first nine holes had him out in 29 shots.

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