Sullivan has made eight birdies in a blemish-free eight-under-par round of 64 round to take the first round lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club.

The 37-year-old Sullivan, looking for a first win on the DP World Tour in over four years, took advantage of cooler conditions before temperatures on the border of the Kruger National Park reached 42 degrees centigrade on Thursday afternoon.

South Africa's Casey Jarvis bounced back after going three-over in his first two holes to card 65 and share second place with Alex Fitzpatrick from England and Sweden's Marcus Kinhult.

Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen was one-under after carding a 71, dropping three shots at the par-5 18th.