Rose, who won the Volvo Masters at the start of November to claim his first Order of Merit crown, carded seven birdies and no bogeys over the daunting Gary Player course at Sun City.

The Johannesburg-born 27-year-old went to the turn in 34 with birdies at the second and eighth and picked up further shots at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th.

On 11 under par he shared the lead with South African Trevor Immelman, who was making the most of his late call-up into the 12-man field.

Immelman, who replaced Sergio Garcia in the £2.2million event, was more inconsistent than Rose but still managed eight birdies and two bogeys to retain a share of the lead.

Home favourite Ernie Els, seeking a fourth title and the £600,000 first prize, lies three off the pace after a 67 which threatened to be much better.

The former Open champion was six under after 13 holes but failed to register any further birdies and bogeyed the 17th to finish eight under.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson is a shot further back on seven under with Australian Adam Scott, joint leader overnight with Immelman, six under after a 71 which saw him drop three shots in the last three holes.

England's Luke Donald, joint second with Rose after an opening 68, could only manage a second-round 71 to slip to sixth place.

South African Charl Schwartzel props up the field on four over.

Meanwhile, England's Richard Finch and Australian Steven Bowditch both shot course record 65s in the second round of the New Zealand Open.

Bowditch leads the tournament by one shot at the halfway mark after a birdie blitz between holes nine and 13 gave him a 10-under-par total.

Finch was in a tie for fourth at The Hills Golf Club, Queenstown, four shots adrift.

Bowditch led from compatriot Paul Sheehan (nine under) and home favourite Michael Long (eight under), who both carded 67.

Finch's bogey-free round included four straight birdies between the 12th and 15th.

However, the performance of the day arguably came from New Zealand's 1963 Open Champion Bob Charles.

The 71-year-old shot an incredible 68, which featured five birdies and an eagle, to make the cut. Scotland's Peter Whiteford held a share of fourth after a 68, while England's Matthew Woods, the overnight leader, slipped off the pace after a second-round 74.