UPDATE 1-Golf-Sizzling Stenson storms five clear at Sun City

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By Lali Stander

SUN CITY, South Africa, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Henrik Stenson surged five strokes clear of the field with a course record-tying 63 in the Sun City Challenge first round on Thursday.

The big-hitting Swede blended accurate tee shots with precision putting at the Gary Player Country Club to fire his nine-under-par score and equal the record set by Ernie Els in the final round of the 2002 event.

South African Rory Sabbatini was second on 68 with Briton Lee Westwood third on 70.

"It was a great day. I've had some good scores here in the past and it's a course I enjoy," world number 12 Stenson told reporters.

"I didn't know about the record but I wish someone had told me because I would definitely have gone one better."

Stenson, who won last week's World Cup for Sweden alongside Robert Karlsson, reeled off three successive birdies at the start before making amends for a bogey four at the seventh with back-to-back birdies at eight and nine.

After another birdie at the 10th, the Ryder Cup player went birdie-eagle-birdie from the 13th before finishing with three par figures.  Continued...