European Tour players teed off wearing shorts for the first time in competition history after course rules were relaxed amid soaring temperatures in South Africa.
Players have been granted permission to dress for comfort with temperatures expected to reach a high of 40C at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.
Shorts have previously been restricted to practise rounds and pro-am events on the European Tour.
For now, the new rule will only apply for this particular tournament.
"The temperatures will increase as the week goes on... A lot of players were concerned about it," Tournament director David Williams said.
"In these temperatures it can be pretty uncomfortable out there in trousers, so the feedback from the players has certainly been positive."
The move was described as ‘a victory for common sense’ by four-time major winner Ernie Els.
"I think this could be a game-changer for golf which could end up enhancing the product,” Els said.
Els, Branden Grace, Charles Schwartzel and Thomas Bjorn were among those wearing shorts on the greens on Thursday – although Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal resisted the temptation, sticking with his more traditional wear.
