Adam Scott starts strong as crowds flock to Australian PGA
Big-time golf returned to Royal Queensland with a bang on Thursday as world-class drawcards Cameron Smith and Adam Scott pulled crowds not seen at the Brisbane course since the days of Greg Norman.
Cars were lined up outside the course’s various parking areas well before Scott and Smith started their first round of the Australian PGA Championship at 6am.
Hundreds of spectators were caught up in long lines outside the course, scrambling to get in as the gallery following the two Queenslanders quickly ballooned.
By the time Smith, Scott, and DP Tour No.2 Ryan Fox hit off at their final hole — the 562-metre par-five ninth – the galleries stretch the entire length of both fairways and ringed the ninth green.
It was reminiscent of the old glory days at RQ when fans flocked out in their thousands just to see Norman play.
If Smith and Scott are paired in the last group on Sunday afternoon, organisers will need all hands on deck for crowd control and to keep the fans moving around the course.
Estimations put the crowd at more than 5,000.
According to one of the on-course volunteers who has been involved with many events at Royal Queensland, the first day attendance was bigger than the crowd on the final day of last year’s PGA Championship at RQ.
Tournament favourite Smith had an uneventful opening with eight pars and a bogey at the 12th (his 3rd hole) to go out in one-over par.
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Scott, on the other hand, had a hot start collecting four birdies to turn in 31, five ahead of Smith.
The former world No.1 and 2013 Masters winner jumped to five-under after 11 holes but struck trouble midway through his back nine, giving up shots on the 160-metre par-three fourth and again on his next hole.
He made a brilliant up-and-down at the long par-five ninth after his second shot ran across the green and over the back.
Scott said with conditions so calm it was important to take advantage and post a good score, which he did with a 66.
“Overall, there was some pretty solid play from me today. A couple of squirrelly shots on the back nine but yeah, I’m very pleased
with that. It was all really solid stuff.
The Queenslander with one of the silkiest swings in world golf went to his long-handled putter regularly off the green today to eliminate the influence the grain can have on the RQ greens when you chip.
“I actually asked a couple of mates who I grew up here as juniors with that are still members, generally what they do around the greens here and the strong consensus was to putt,” he said.
“It was a simple strategy and it worked pretty effectively today.
“It’s going to be tricky around the greens, that’s why hitting a lot (greens) is a very good idea.
Asked about the first-day galleries, Scott said: “It was great.
“It was incredibly early but as we were kind of walking to the tee, people were streaming out to the golf course and so they should, it’s great to see everyone coming out.
“Obviously it’s exciting that Cam’s coming home to play off the back of the year that he’s had and we had a strong group. Foxy as well has played great and I’m the third wheel there.
“It was just a great group to be in and nice that everyone wanted to come out and have a look this morning.”
Smith, getting over jet lag, said his brain was a “bit foggy” on the first nine and he wasn’t quite “dialed in”.
READ: Cam Smith humbled by local support ahead of Australian PGA
Asked about feeling the pressure and the weight of expectation as British Open champion and world No.3, he said he always went out to play his best.
“I mean, for sure I’m here to try and play my best golf but sometimes you play your best golf and finish 20th, he said his opening 68,” Smith said.
“I went out there, did what I had to do I think.
“Scotty was playing really nice. He’s coming into form the old fella I think, so he might be hard to chase down over the weekend.”
Other good rounds on Thursday included a four-under 67 by Beaudesert’s Maverick Antcliff, who attended Augusta State University.
China’s Yanwei Liu posted five birdies and a bogey on the way to an opening 67, while Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia added some international spice to the scoreboard both shooting 68.
