A remaining gap birdie was considered one of eight in a scintillating opening spherical which despatched Aussie gun Min Woo Lee to the highest of the leaderboard on the opening day of the Australian PGA in Brisbane.
However the world No.45’s time on the high was short-lived as little-known Spaniard Joel Moscatel upstaged him with a record-equalling spherical of 64 on Thursday.
World No.45 Lee was good beginning with a seven-under spherical of 65, significantly outpointing taking part in associate and three-time champion Cameron Smith who made bogeys on two of his remaining three holes in an unpleasant begin to his title defence.
Smith, who carded a two-over par 73, finds himself an enormous 9 pictures behind Lee already with Adam Scott additionally making an enormous opening day affect taking pictures a five-under 67, together with seven birdies, blighted solely by two bogeys which value him a share of the lead.
Lee, who secured taking part in rights on the US PGA Tour for 2024 after a 12 months which included successful the Macau Open, solely arrived in Brisbane on Monday after taking part in within the DP Tour’s season-ending tour championship in Dubai.
He solely made three birdies on his opening 9 holes earlier than storming dwelling with one other 5 on the again to grab the lead with 30 gamers below par among the many morning teams which began play at 6am native time on the Royal Queensland Golf Membership.
Moscatel, ranked 1162nd on this planet, then surprised all people with a surprising spherical that featured 5 straight birdies on the again 9.
Moscatel now shares the course file with former Australian PGA winner Jed Morgan, and he might have taken it outright after lacking a birdie putt on the 18th.
Scott, who talked about his robust want to win for the primary time since 2020, had a bogey earlier than his first birdie however like Lee discovered them plentiful in a constructive begin to his quest for a 3rd PGA title.
Smith, nevertheless, by no means received going and the 2022 British Open winner managed only a single birdie and three bogeys to search out himself in a tie for 56th within the early phases of the match.
Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert are among the many large Aussie names teeing off this afternoon.
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