Former nightclub bouncer Jake Knapp lopped two strokes off the course record when he opened with a sensational 12-under 59 in the Cognizant Classic.

The big-hitting American (30) took advantage of benign conditions at the Champion Course at PGA National, opening with five straight birdies before making birdie hat tricks from the ninth and the 13th to get to 11-under.

He had a chance to match Jim Furyk’s PGA Tour record low of 58, but missed a 19 footer for eagle at the 18th.

“Would have been nice to make the one on 18, but happy with it overall,” said Knapp, who had an early four-shot lead over Sami Valimaki, Daniel Berger and Russell Henley at the traditionally tough Palm Beach track.

At the weather-affected Investec South African Open, England’s Sam Bairstow and Sweden’s Fredrik From carded seven-under 65s to lead in the clubhouse when play was suspended.

Darren Fichardt was seven-under with four holes to play following a three-hour delay to the start as greens staff worked through the night to drain a heavily flooded Durban Country Club.

There are three spots in The Open at Royal Portrush up for grabs in Durban and three more at next month’s International Series Macau on the Asian Tour, where Portrush native Graeme McDowell (45) hopes to earn a spot in the field.

The LIV Golf stalwart told BBC Sport NI he was “honoured” Royal Portrush had named a hole on the redesigned Valley Course after him, adding that “everyone is very optimistic” about the future of golf as the PGA Tour attempts to complete a reunification deal with Saudi Arabia’s PIF.

"I'm really excited that things are going on to try and repair the damage that's been done and bring the best players in the world back together more often," the former US Open champion said.

The future of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open certainly looks bright after promoters ForeFront announced that Leona Maguire will be joined by Solheim Cup skipper Anna Nordqvist and Swedish star Madelene Sagström at Carton House from July 3-6.

Major winner Georgia Hall, holder Annabel Dimmock and world amateur number one Lottie Woad will also tee it up.