Scotland's Paul Lawrie played through the pain barrier yesterday to take a one-shot lead into the second round of the invitational Million Dollar Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club course. British Open champion Lawrie shot six birdies and an eagle for a first round 65, despite bogeying the par-four third hole, and leads fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie, who won this event in 1996, by one shot.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is 11th in the elite 12-man field after an indifferent opening round of level par 72.

Montgomerie got off to a flying start when he birdied the first three holes but a dropped shot on the par-three 12th spoiled an otherwise perfect day for the big Scot who made 66 after a tight battle with playing partner Ernie Els, the South African favourite who is a shot behind. Lawrie needed physiotherapy to his ankle which he hurt at the PGA Tour's Grand Slam tournament in Hawaii last week, and strode out on to the course wearing a leg brace which raised blisters on his skin as the day wore on, but said the injury did little harm to his game.

"The ankle didn't affect my game too badly. It didn't interfere with my swing, but I took a little strain while walking. The physio did a fantastic job sorting the ankle out," he said. "But then the blisters started and I needed to get patched up."

He said he hoped his performance would silence those critics who don't rate him as a champion golfer. "I feel I played very well. I drove well which is needed on this course and came through with some good chips."

Montgomerie too was pleased with his performance. "Seven birdies, one dropped shot, 66 is good. When I won this event I started with a 65," he said. The slow greens played havoc with Sergio Garcia, playing in his first Million Dollar event. A disappointed Garcia is six shots off the pace, one-under par.

"I hit the ball pretty well and hit some putts, but it just didn't want to go in," said the 19-year-old, who admitted he was tired after a long trip to South Africa this week.

"Maybe I'll go and see the animals (in the nearby game park), get scared, and come back and play some golf," said Garcia.

Paraguay's Carlos Franco, playing in his first Million Dollar, hit a solid 70 to tie with American Jim Furyk on two-under. Surprise package John Huston, ranked 15th in the world, is lying joint third with Els after hitting a 67, including an eagle on the par-five 10th hole. "I hit some pretty good shots. I'm pleased to go around and not play a bogey," said the American.

Defending champion Nick Price, bidding for his fourth Million Dollar title and his third in a row after back-to-back victories in 1997 and 1998, is joint fourth with England's Lee Westwood on four-under par.