Dunhill hit by handicap row

Ernie Els on his way to leading the individual event

Country and western singer Clay Walker was involved in controversy as he and Australian Steve Elkington took the lead in the team section of the £3.5m Dunhill Links championship at St Andrews.

Walker and Elkington returned a better-ball score of 59, 13-under-par, but it then came to light that the singer should have played off a handicap of seven rather than 11.

Ian Banner, of the tournament's championship committee, said: "After playing to level par in his practice round the committee announced that Clay Walker's handicap was cut from 11 to seven."

But executive tournament director Peter German explained: "The championship committee informed the tournament office of the change, but the tournament office was unable to effect the change prior to Clay Walker teeing off."

John Paramor, chief referee of the European tour, added: "There is no question of any skulduggery or breach of the rules.

It was crazy the way it was blowing and raining and the fog. It was almost ridiculous

Ernie Els

"The player signed for gross scores which are correct and therefore there is no question of disqualification."

Walker's new handicap will apply for the next three rounds of the tournament.

Elkington recorded a one-under-par 71, but the round of the opening day was recorded by Ernie Els, who missed the Carnoustie course record by a single stroke.

The South African's seven-under-par 65 came five hours after he feared that he would fail to break 80 in the richest golf event ever staged in Britain.

"At first, I just wanted to stay alive," said Els.

"It was crazy the way it was blowing and raining and the fog. It was almost ridiculous."

Els produced a superb run of six successive birdies at the start of the back nine once the weather started to clear and put himself in pole position for the massive £550,000 first prize.

Steve Elkington advises partner Clay Walker

The South African, partnering his father, Neels, is actually tied for the lead with his fellow countryman Omar Sandys, but the 24-year-old's round came on the easier Old Course at St Andrews.

Three courses are being used for the event, but all three had fog delays at the start of the day and another one at Kingsbarns at lunchtime meant that the first round could not be completed there before nightfall.

Officials are hoping to make up lost time on Friday, but more delays will cause real problems with the 312-strong field - half of them amateurs - due to play all three courses by Saturday evening.

The leading 60 pros and 20 teams will qualify for the final round at St Andrews on Sunday.

The race for the European Order of Merit could well be decided this weekend with so much money on offer.

Yet another South African, Retief Goosen, took another step towards that.

The US Open champion, already £460,000 ahead of nearest challenger Darren Clarke, had a three-under-par 69 at Carnoustie, three better than the Ulsterman.