Australian Brett Rumford equalled the course record of 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the $US500,000 ($A646,000) South African Open at the Ervinvale Golf Club.

On a day on which the wind stayed away, Rumford took advantage of an early tee-off time, and some early year rustiness from the pre-tournament favourites.

Rumford won the 1999 ANZ Players Championship as an amateur and then turned professional in 2000, claiming his maiden European Tour victory in the St Omer Open last year.

He said that win gave him confidence.

"It confirms that you are able to compete at this level," he said.

"Leading from start to finish is probably the hardest way to win a golf tournament, and I proved to myself in St Omer that I could do that, so it does give me confidence.

"But there is a long way to go here, and every week is different."

Rumford is just a single shot clear of Stephen Dodd of Wales, whose 65 was bogey-less and constructed very simply.

"I just hit it straight and that was the key, driving it straight and hitting the greens," he said.

The two big names looking to start the Ryder Cup year on a high note were Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and England's Lee Westwood.

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