Russell Knox hits the ground running at Pebble Beach

Scot Russell Knox got the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am off to a flying start with a six-under round of 64 to take the lead.

The 27-year-old leads a field packed full of top golfers from around the world after a great performance on the Monterey Peninsula course, one of three being used for the event.

He is tied at the top of the leaderboard with Hunter Mahan, who shot a 66 on the Pebble Beach course to match Knox's six-under total.

Matt Every, Seung-Yul Noh, Ted Potter Jr, Greg Owen, Ryuji Imada and Scott Langley all sit on five under, ahead of the likes of Lee Westwood and Brandt Snedeker on four under.

Phil Mickelson, who is aiming for his fifth AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am win sits five shots off the lead after a one-under round of 69 on the Monterey Peninsula course.

European Tour

The European Tour golf tournament got underway in South Africa yesterday, with the home players performing well in the Joburg Open.

South African Richard Sterne fired a flawless 63 in the first round on the West Course at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club. He was matched only by German rookie Maximilian Kiefer.

Sterne continued his fine form, which saw him pick up a second place in Dubai last week, into the first round and he is confident of carrying it through the rest of the week.

"I had three good rounds on the East Course that year. If I can do that now, I'll have a chance on Sunday," said the 31-year-old.

"Some days it feels good and everything kind of happens. Golf is a strange game and you have to hit the right shots at the right time. I hit 17 greens today and was never in trouble."

Another South African, Bryce Easton, is sat in third place, one shot behind the leading pair, thanks in some part to a hole-in-one on the 12th hole of the East Course.

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