Former Springbok forward Rob Louw joined Australian spin legend Shane Warne and Ross Desmond in the lead of the team competition at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Louw and Belgian professional Thomas Detry, who managed a one-under par opening round, combined for a Thursday 61 to lead alongside Warne and Ryan Fox and Desmond and Aron Price.

Despite an opening two over par 74 from Ernie Els, the Big Easy and his partner Rurik Gobel are in 11th after an opening 64.

2012 Dunhill Links winner Branden Grace and Johann Rupert are in 20th place on -7 and are joined by Jaco Ahlers playing with Schalk Burger Snr and Brandon Stone who has Irish rugby legend Paul O’Connell for company.

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Lyoness Open winner Dylan Frittelli and surfing icon Kelly Slater are five under after round one and are joined on that mark by Christiaan Bezuidenhout and his amateur partner Jacques Kallis. Also on -5 are Rory and dad Gerry McIlroy, playing on his birthday.

Another former Springbok, Fourie Du Preez, and his professional teammate Haydn Porteous have their work cut out if they want to make it into the top 20 that will feature on Sunday after opening with a 69 at Carnoustie. The Du Preez team is joined at -3 by Mark Boucher and Laurie Canter.

In terms of the cricket min-battle this week, former England star Kevin Pietersen brings up the rear as he sits in 140th place with partner Callum Shinkwin after a -1 start.

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