Adam Scott couldn’t make a putt and Jason Day couldn’t find a fairway but Australia’s top golfers still scrambled into contention after the first round of the lucrative Players Championship in Florida.
While Greg Chalmers took top Australian honours on the opening day with a four-under 68 to be tied 10th, big guns Scott and Day were just a shot behind at three under.
American Roberto Castro equalled the course record, held jointly by Greg Norman and Fred Couples, at nine-under 63, but this event invariably gets tougher each day and his lead is by no means safe.
Castro finished three clear of world No.2 Rory McIlroy (66) and former Masters champion Zach Johnson (66), while world No.1 Tiger Woods is among six golfers tied fourth at five-under 67.
World No.3 Scott, in his first hit-out since becoming the Masters champion, had lost none of his flawless ball striking despite his three-week celebration period.
The Queenslander hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens on the way to four birdies and a bogey but was ranked 99th in the field putting.
He missed four chances from inside 10 feet and was none from nine outside 10 feet.
“A couple didn’t fall and then I hit some ordinary ones. I just didn’t make everything I could have,” Scott admitted.
“I played really solid. Just the speed at times was a little off.
“It’s tough as the greens are kind of a funny colour and it is not always easy to see the grain and stuff like that so I got fooled a couple of times.”
Scott headed straight to the putting green to practice but certainly didn’t feel out of contention despite being six back.
“Three under is a good number,” he said.
“It was great scoring out there today and I didn’t take advantage like others but I’ll be surprised if they keep going at that pace. If they do, I’ll just have to make more putts.”
Day had a completely different problem, hitting just five of 14 fairways (tied 138th), usually a recipe for complete disaster on this Pete Dye designed course.
But he scrambled like a genius to still find 13 of 18 greens.
“I played solid but I was a little loose off the tee,” Day said.
“So I’m just going to go out and try and straighten out the driver, fairway woods and two iron a little bit so I can make life easier.”
Chalmers quietly put himself into the mix late in the day, rebounding from an opening-hole bogey to post five birdies.
“I have been working hard on the mental routine and getting the steps in place because I have a busy mind when I play,” he said.
“No question it’s good to start well, but it’s such a long week. I didn’t miss a fairway and played some really good golf so I’m pleased.”
Matt Jones fired a two-under 70 to be reasonably placed in a tie for 34th.
Marc Leishman sits midfield after an even par 72 while Robert Allenby and John Senden carded 73s.
It was a tough morning for Geoff Ogilvy (75) and Aaron Baddeley, who carded a six-over 78.