(Reuters) - Ernie Els put behind him a fear over potential kidney stones and the disadvantage of no pre-tournament practice rounds this week as he surged into contention for the Quicken Loans National in Virginia on Thursday.
The big South African, who has struggled for consistency on the 2014-15 PGA Tour, fired a seven-under-par 64 on a rain-softened layout at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville to end the opening round just one stroke off the lead.
Els was delighted to shoot his lowest score on the U.S. circuit this season, having pulled out of Wednesday's pro-am competition after experiencing pain in his right side before medical tests confirmed it was just a muscle spasm.