Aussie roundup: Adam Scott takes early lead, Jason Day battles as Cameron Smith sits with big dogs

AUSSIE WRAP: 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott is primed for a run at a second green jacket after an opening round that left him in the thick of things at the top of the leaderboard.

Adam Scott reacts after his birdie on the 18th hole. Picture: AP

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Adam Scott’s fastest start at Augusta in five years has him primed for a run at a second green jacket.

Scott, 38, birdied three of the last four holes, shooting a three-under par 69 for an early share of the opening-round lead at the US Masters — before being run down by the late finishers.

A pair of Americans Brooks Koepka and Bryson Dechambeau finished the day clear at six-under, but it didn’t take the gloss off Scott’s hot start.

“It’s a great start on a kind of tricky day,” Scott said.

“Generally, in my career, I’m kind of a slow starter … I don’t jump out of the gates.”

Adam Scott finished strong to be an early clubhouse leader. Picture: Getty

Scott’s new Directed Force putter complete with a claw grip got hot on the way in, and he persisted to putt with flagstick in on all 18 holes.

“I got some disapproving murmurs on the 1st when I had like a one and a half footer and I put the flagstick back in,” Scott said.

“But until something doesn’t work I’m going to keep leaving it in.”

Fellow Aussie Cameron Smith is one shot back at two-under par after finishing tied for fifth last year.

“I could have let it get away from me at some stages but I hung in there and made a few nice swings towards the end,” Smith said.

“It’s a tough golf course. If it was a touch firmer it would have been unreal today.

“I didn’t have my best stuff but made plenty of clutch putts ... sometimes you’ve just got to do that.

“It’s good to know there is a score out there for me and hopefully the rest of the week can bring that.”

Cameron Smith left some shots out on the Augusta greens. Picture: Getty

Marc Leishman shot even-par and believes he can win.

“It’s not that far back at all,” Leishman said.

“My game’s really good. I’m playing well.

“I know I’m in it, three back is nothing.”

Originally published as Aussie roundup: Adam Scott takes early lead, Jason Day battles as Cameron Smith sits with big dogs