Defending champion Adam Scott shot a one-over 73 in the opening round of the Australian Masters at the Metropolitan course in Melbourne on Thursday.
Scott is six shots off the pace set by Steve Bowditch, Michael Wright, Todd Sinnott and Stephen Allan.
Scott’s only highlight was an eagle at the par-five sixth hole, but he added a double and a bogey in a round that frustrated the 2013 US Masters champion.
But he was in one of the most interesting groups with 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and a cheeky 16-year-old amateur Ryan Ruffles, son of former Australian tennis pro Ray.
Ogilvy fired in a three-under 67, Ruffles a three-over 75.
But it was Ruffles who grabbed the attention with a monster 370-metre drive on the 470-metre par-five sixth, where Scott eagled, but Ruffles needed three more to get down for his birdie.
Ruffles also reminded Ogilvy he broke his Victoria Golf Club course record with a stunning 63, and apologised for doing it.
Ogilvy just smiled.
Ruffles is a member of the Golf Australia National squad, and according to Ogilvy has real ability. But he’s a cheeky teenager, a bit like his dad. Let’s see how he fares today in the second round.
Another interesting group was Bowditch, his beer-drnking, huntin’ and shootin’ Amercian mate Boo Weekley and the angular amateur Todd Sinnott.
Weekley was sure hankerin’ for a beer after shooting even par, missing far too many putts on the slick greens for his liking, while his playing partners topped the leaderboard.
Ogilvy looks dangerous, so too Peter Lonard on the comeback trail, and American visitor Kyle Stanley, all three on 69.
Robert Allenby is two-under, leftie Richard Green one-under, while Craig Parry’s even par with Jarrod Lyle, in remission after two bouts of leukaemia – he is so brave and committed, deserving of a good tournament.
Keep an eye on 19-year-old amateur Antonio Murdaca. He won the Asia Pacific Amateur at Royal Melbourne last month, a major international amateur tournament, by a massive seven shots.
He was ranked ninth of the 10 Australians who qualified, and blew the entire field away, clinching a US Masters ticket for next year.
Murdaca looks like a younger version of Craig Parry, with a ‘Popeye’ frame.
Expect Antonio, Anthony, Tony Murdaca to make his move today, he answers to all three christian names.
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