Ernie Els sunk two birdies to complete his rain-hit first round of the Barclays Singapore Open on Friday, taking a one stroke lead from local hope Lam Chih Bing.

The big South African was only able to finish 14 holes on Thursday before bad-light forced him off the par-71 Serapong course after play was held up for over two hours due to rain.

He returned at daybreak to add birdies at the 16th and 18th for a five-under-par round of 66.

Els switched his base from Wentworth in England to West Palm Beach in Florida this year, changed his caddie and personal trainer and replaced David Leadbetter with Butch Harmon as his coach.

Until last weekend the moves had yet to pay dividends with seven missed cuts, but he won the King Hassan II Trophy in Morocco on Sunday and has brought his form to Singapore.

He leads by a stroke from Singapore's Lam and is a further shot clear of Australia's Marcus Both, who both completed their rounds on Thursday.

Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington is six behind Els while world number three Phil Mickelson had seven shots to make up.

Two-time champion Adam Scott, who beat Els in a play-off here in 2006, is 10 off the lead and has his work cut out with the second round under way.

AFP

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