JOHANNESBURG - Jbe Kruger and Andy Sullivan both shot a 6-under 66 to share the first-round lead at the European Tours South African Open on Thursday. Drew Stanton Jersey.Ernie Els was a shot behind as he searches for his first win in 19 months.Els opened 2015 with a 67 in his home town of Johannesburg, picking up three birdies in his first nine after starting on No. 10 and making his only bogey on No. 12.Els South African compatriot Kruger was bogey-free around Glendower Golf Club, while Englands Sullivan recovered from a double-bogey to ultimately card six birdies and an eagle.Els was without a top-three finish on the European Tour last year for the first time since 1992, but his crisp iron play on a course he knows well put him in early contention for a sixth South African Open title.An approach to within two feet on No. 9, his last, set up a tap-in for Els final birdie and a promising start to the new year for the four-time major champion who last won a title at the BMW International Open in June 2013.That was nice, Els said. I was a little nervous here and there but it was so nice to play Glendower in front of my home crowd.Els said he found putting a little nerve-wracking after reverting to a regular putter ahead of the banning of anchored strokes in 2016.The 45-year-old Els is now the tournament host at the South African Open and is seeking the victory that will put him behind just Gary Player, Bobby Locke and Sid Brews as the most successful player at the second oldest tournament in professional golf.He shares third with Lasse Jensen and Richard Sterne, with four other players tied for sixth after a weather delay led to a late finish for part of the field. One of those in the tie for sixth was former U.S. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who also started well with a 4-under 68 in his quest for a first South African Open title.Defending champion Morten Orum Madsen of Denmark was 1 over after a 73 that included three bogeys and a double-bogey. Budda Baker Jersey . 3 seed Phillip Kohlschreiber from Germany. Defending champion Marin Cilic also reached the semifinals -- his fourth in Zagreb -- defeating fellow Croat Ivan Dodig. German qualifier Bjorn Phau beat Dudi Sela of Israel to reach his first semifinals in nearly five years. Corey Peters Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario.RALEIGH, N.C. -- Ron Francis wasted little time putting his stamp on the Carolina Hurricanes. One week into his new job as general manager, Francis fired coach Kirk Muller and most of his staff. Now leading a franchise that has made the playoffs just once in eight years, Francis cited the need for a "fresh start" and warned that nobody on the roster -- from the marquee names, to the grinders at the end of the bench -- is untouchable. "I dont think changing the coaches lets the players off the hook," Francis said. "I think there has to be a lot of responsibility on their shoulders as well to turn this thing around. Hopefully we can do that going forward." Francis, a Hall of Fame player and former captain and assistant coach with the Hurricanes, took control of the team last week when Jim Rutherford stepped aside after a two-decade run as its GM. As part of his first big housecleaning move, assistants John MacLean and Dave Lewis also were fired and goaltending coach Greg Stefan was reassigned back to the teams pro scouting department. Rod BrindAmour, a third-year assistant who was the captain of Carolinas only Stanley Cup-winning team in 2006, was retained because Francis said "Roddy really didnt have, in my estimation, a prominent role on this staff." Francis says its "an open search at this point," is looking for "a guy whos a teacher" with strong communication and leadership qualities and ideally would like to hire his new coach before the June 27-28 draft. "I dont really have anybody in mind," he said. "Well start (with) a few names were putting on the list, and well go forward looking at that list and see who is the best fit for our team going forward." Muller was 80-80-27 in three seasons with the Hurricanes, who havent made the playoffs since 2009, the llongest active drought in the Eastern Conference. Tyrann Mathieu Jersey. Carolina finished 13th in the 16-team East this season. "The biggest thing was our inconsistency," Francis said. "Some nights we looked like a great team and other nights, we really struggled, looked like we didnt know how to play the game at times." Muller, 48, made six All-Star teams during a 19-year career with six clubs, most notably New Jersey and Montreal. He had never been a head coach in the NHL and was in his first season coaching the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL when he was hired during the 2011-12 season to replace the fired Paul Maurice. The relentlessly positive Muller spent the past month in limbo, saying in mid-April that upper management had not told him anything about his job status and that he was going about his business as if he would remain the coach. While owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said late in the season that he liked the coaching staff, he added last week that it would be entirely Francis call whether to retain Muller. During his formal introduction as GM, Francis said his impending decision on Mullers status "needs due process." Mullers final year was plagued by subpar years from the four highest-paid players on the roster -- forwards Alexander Semin and Eric and Jordan Staal, and goalie Cam Ward. When Ward was asked during his exit interview if it was tough for Muller to get his message across in the dressing room, the goalie said "for me, obviously, Im going to avoid that one." Francis said he didnt sense much friction between Muller and the players. "You look at our team, theres guys who didnt play well. They were told that by us in the exit meetings," the GM said. "Theres always going to be situations where, as a player, if you dont like the coach, youve still got to perform." Cheap NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap Jerseys From ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaNFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '