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Sydney - World number two Adam Scott set himself up brilliantly on Thursday to capture the Australian golf "Grand Slam" with a blistering new course record on day one of the Australian Open.
Scott birdied his opening six holes and then his closing four in a 10-under par 62, three shots fewer than the previous low of 65.
It was the Australian's lowest round ever on the Australasian Tour and just one shot more than his career best 61 en route to victory at the 2008 Qatar Masters in Doha.
"It was just a beautiful morning for golf and the conditions over my outward nine were just ideal for scoring and didn't have much work to do to go to six under par after six holes," he said after recording just 24 putts.
"I was really rolling after that but it's interesting because I went through a roller coaster of emotions out there to be cruising after six holes but then having to work hard for the next seven or eight holes just to make some pars and getting a bit frustrated as nothing much was going my way.
"So it's just incredible how in 18 holes you can do 360 degrees of emotions and mood swings but it was a great start and a very nice little course record now to have."
Five players had held the old course record of a seven under par 65, including fellow Australian and PGA Tour member Mathew Goggin, with all of them setting the mark during the 2008 Australian Open at the same Royal Sydney course.
Scott arrived in Sydney looking to become only the second player behind compatriot Robert Allenby in 2005 to capture the Australian golf "Grand Slam" of victory in the Australian PGA, Australian Masters and Australian Open.
He won this year's PGA by four shots from American Rickie Fowler and successfully defended his Australian Masters title, defeating another American in Matt Kuchar by two shots.
"I don't know if there is a target on my back but then there might be after today, as I might be leading so I will be the guy everyone is shooting for," Scott said.
"I had a few times in my career where I ran away winning by several shots and while it is a good attribute to have, it's still hard to do."
The Australian Open is Scott's final event of 2013.
Leading scores after the first round of the Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club (par 72) on Thursday.
62 - Adam Scott (AUS) (new course record)
65 - Ryan Yip (CAN), John Young Kim, (USA)
66 - David McKenzie (AUS)
67 - Jason Norris (AUS), Aaron Bradley (AUS), Jason Scrivener (AUS), Alistair Presnell (AUS)
68 - Scott Laycock (AUS), Steven Bowditch (AUS), Brady Watt (AUS), Anthony Brown (AUS), Matthew Jones (AUS), Steven Jones (AUS), Max McCardle (AUS)
69 - Nathan Holman (AUS), Rory McIlroy (NIR), Tom Bond (AUS), Adam Bland (AUS), Kalem Richardson (AUS), Richard Green (AUS), Josh Younger (AUS)
Selected others:
70 - Jason Day (AUS)
