Adam Scott made a blistering start to the Australian PGA, shading local hero Cameron Smith as The Open champion fought his way into contention after a week-long celebration in Brisbane.
Asked to start his first round at 6am local time alongside Smith – the earliest tee time of his professional career – Scott burst out of the blocks at Royal Queensland to fire a five-under 66 on Thursday. And it could have even been better.
Australia’s only US Masters champion had a blip midway through his inward nine with consecutive bogeys but had earlier posted five birdies in eight holes.
“It was incredibly early, but as we were kind of walking to the tee, people were streaming out to the golf course and so they should, it’s great to see everyone coming out,” Scott said.
“Obviously it’s exciting that Cam’s coming home to play off the back of the year that he’s had and we had a strong group. Foxy [Ryan Fox] as well has played great and I’m the third wheel there. But it was a great group to be in and nice that everyone wanted to come out and have a look this morning.”
Smith, by contrast, laboured at times through his front nine after a packed schedule of media and promotional commitments, as well as being crowned the Greg Norman Medal winner on Australian golf’s night of nights.
Adam Scott and Cameron Smith during the Australian PGA first round.Credit:Getty
But he finished with a flurry of three birdies over his final four holes as huge crowds followed his every move in his first tournament in Australia in three years.
“I definitely felt a little bit tired this morning, just the brain was a little bit foggy,” Smith said. “I kind of found it hard, I guess, to really concentrate out there and commit to shots.
“I’ve definitely enjoyed [the week], but it has been long. I had [Wednesday] afternoon off, I couldn’t wait to get home and have a big nap. So I did that and had a good sleep last night. I went out there and did what I had to do I think.”
Australia’s top two players featured in a group alongside New Zealand’s world No.27 Ryan Fox (+1), fresh from a breakout year on the DP World Tour.
Fox had flown from Dubai to Auckland and then to Brisbane in a hectic travelling schedule, which left the 35-year-old battling severe jet lag in the days before the tournament.
Scott was the best score of the morning wave in the first round with Maverick Antcliff and China’s Yan Wei Liu (both -4) sitting in second.
The Australian PGA has brought together the best field in the country since the 2019 Presidents Cup with Smith, Scott, Marc Leishman, Cameron Davis, Min Woo Lee and Lucas Herbert all returning home for the summer.
Watch the Australian PGA Championship on the 9Network and 9Now from November 24-27.
