Harrington on form in Sun City

In-form Padraig Harrington roared to a seven under 65 to win the Nedbank Challenge Pro-Am in Sun City.

And that must make him the man to beat in the elite $4.3 million Nedbank Golf Challenge tees off at the Gary Player Country Club today.

Harrington finished two shots ahead of local boy Trevor Immelman with defending champion Jim Furyk and South Africa's Charl Schwartzel a shot further back on 68.

The Dubliner is first off with Scot Colin Montgomerie at 9.10 Irish time in the race to win the $1.2 million first prize.

Just two weeks after downing Tiger Woods in Japan, Harrington faces a tough test in the 12-man event.

Apart from world No 2 Furyk, he also faces Ryder Cup team mates Sergio Garcia, David Howell, Jose Maria Olazabal and South African stars Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

Pro-Am scores

65 - Padraig Harrington
67 - Trevor Immelman
68 - Jim Furyk, Charl Schwartzel
70 - Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, David Howell, Henrik Stenson
73 - Chris DiMarco
75 - Jose-Maria Olazabal, Ernie Els
76 - Sergio Garcia

Nedbank Challenge tee times (Irish time)

9.10 Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington

9.22 Trevor Immelman, David Howell

9.34 Henrik Stenson, Jose-Maria Olazabal

9.46 Charl Schwartze, Ernie Els

9.58 Chris DiMarco, Sergio Garcia

10.10 Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen