Ernie Els went "flat out" trying to break the magical 60 barrier, missed by a shot but still carved out one of the great rounds of golf.

The South African's 12-under par 60 in the first round of the Heineken Classic at the legendary Royal Melbourne course took him to the threshold of one of the game's most elite groups.

Only three men - Americans Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval - have shot 59 in a PGA tournament on a par 72 course.

Swedish star Annika Sorenstam has shot 59 on the LPGA Tour.

Four players have fired 60 on the US Tour and five on the European Tour - Els becomes the sixth in this Australasian/European co-sanctioned event.

The 59 mark hung tantalisingly close for the defending champion and each time he swiped at it, it was whisked away.

Els' round consisted of 11 birdies, one eagle and one bogey, a fairytale-shattering five at the par four 15th.

Els came into the Heineken Classic after closing last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok with five straight birdies, so has now amassed 16 birdies and one eagle in 23 holes of golf.

Reaching the turn in 29, seven under par, Els birdied the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes and aimed his putter squarely at a 59.

"The last nine holes, really, I felt like I was playing the last day of a golf tournament and you feel like you need to make more birdies to win the tournament," Els said.

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