ADAM SCOTT knows he will need to stage a big fightback if the Aussie team is to contend for the 2013 World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.
Scott had a shocker on the par four 12th where he had to sign for a nine. He ended the first day toward the back of the pack at four over.
Jason Day meanwhile was sitting pretty after a 3-under 68 to finish just two behind the joint leaders, America’s Kevin Streelman and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.
Streelman and Bjorn opened their campaigns with rounds of 5-under 66, and will lead into Friday’s second round over Stuart Manley (Wales), K.J.Choi (South Korea) and Martin Laird (Scotland) who finished at 4-under par.
Streelman was the star performer on day one, with the 35-year-old at one stage holding a two shot advantage over the field.
“I was very pleased with that start. It’s just an incredible golf course,” said Streelman whose strong year on the PGA TOUR was punctuated by a win at the 2013 Tampa Bay Championship in March.
“It’s a treat to play. I really love it and was able to keep the ball below the holes. Some of those pin positions were rather difficult and it is a course you have to be so careful on and I was able to put the ball in the right position and make some really nice birdie putts and also some par saves as well. So it’s a nice start.”
Bjorn was likewise pleased with his opening round despite a shaky start where he four-putted the 4th hole. The Dane had nothing but praise for the famed Royal Melbourne layout.
“This golf course in itself is fantastic but the condition of it is just perfect because it just demands so much of you. Anything in red numbers on this golf course on any day is good,” said Bjorn.
Day was pleased with his opening effort, especially since he hadn’t played in a tournament for five weeks.
“I think the biggest goal today was just to try to stay patient,” the Queenslander said.
“You have got to come in with a happy attitude and understand that you have had five weeks off, don’t really expect too much but go out there and give every shot a hundred per cent.”
“I’m very happy with shooting three under. It’s a good position going into the next three days and just got to chip away at it.”
After two wins on the trot his teammate Scott maybe wasn’t so fresh.
“It was a little disappointing to do that but stuff can happen and that’s why when you play good tracks like this you need to be switched on at all times and I paid the price today,” Scott said.
“It is going to play tougher and tougher and I don’t think scores are going to be that great. So I think if I can plug away at it I will maybe claw my way back into it.”
In the teams competition Denmark and the United States share the overall lead, three strokes ahead of Portugal.
Scotland, Canada and South Korea are tied for fourth position with Australia tied for eighth position.
Round 2 of the ISPS HANDA World Cup will get underway from 9.24am on Friday