2015 Australian Masters: Adam Scott surges into first round lead

Adam Scott has stormed out of the blocks to lead the 2015 Australian Masters at Huntingdale.

Adam Scott has continued his recent good form to surge into the lead at the 2015 UNIQLO australian Masters thanks to a bogey-free 7-under 64.

“I played really solid, so it’s nice to see a little bit of the work I’ve been doing last week and early this week fall into place in a tournament situation,” said Scott.

Scott teed off the 10th hole and made the most of the benign morning conditions at Huntingdale Golf Club in Melbourne. Now firmly committed to playing with the short putter, Scott looked very comfortable and shot seven birdies in his round.

“This time, when I decided to use it, I committed to it,” Scott said. “This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to putt like this and work at it and try to be the best putter in the world, like I try to be in every aspect of the game. That’s what I’m committed to.”

Daniel Fox was the best of the afternoon groups who played in more difficult conditions as the wind picked up around Melbourne’s famous sandbelt region. Fox had just the one bogey on his card to finish the day at 6-under par, just a shot behind Scott.

Fox won his first professional golf tournament just a few weeks ago, when he claimed the WA Open at the Royal Fremantle Golf club by three shots and will be looking to make the most of tomorrow’s calmer morning conditions.

It wouldn’t be an Australian swing without Peter Wilson’s name featuring on the leaderboard. He fired a 4-under par round of 68 to take a share of third place alongside Matt Steiger and Mat Goggin.

Other notable names to shoot some good scores on day one included American amateur Bryson DeChambeau and veteran Peter Fowler. Both players from opposite ends of the generation spectrum shot 2-under par 69s.

DeChambeau, who plays with irons of the same length and a Ben Hogan style flat cap, looked in disarray as he stumbled to three-over par after a nasty triple-bogey at the par-4 17th hole (his 8th) but the US Amateur champion steadied on his back nine to card three birdies and an eagle – a hole out on the par-4 8th hole after hitting the flagstick.