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Gold Coast - Marc Leishman's quest for a first professional victory on home soil got off to a strong start on Thursday with a 4-under 68 to sit two strokes behind the first round Australian PGA Championships leaders.
Leishman, starting on the 10th, had two bogeys and two birdies on his first nine before making birdie on four of his final seven holes at Royal Pines.
Leaders Jake McLeod and fellow Australian Matt Jager shot 66s had a one-stroke lead over South Korean Jae-woong Eom and Dimitrios Papadatos.
Leishman, who was in a group tied for fifth, said his round could have been better.
"I think 7-under would be a great score around here," Leishman said.
"It's been the goal of mine for the last few years, when I don't have my best golf, my best stuff, to still shoot under par. I'm getting better at it."
American Harold Varner III, who won the tournament in 2016 and has finished second in a playoff and sixth in three Australian PGAs at Royal Pines, shot 69.
Defending champion Cameron Smith shot 70, as did England's Andrew "Beef" Johnston, who recovered from being 3-over after three holes and had to be talked out of quitting his round.
Starting on the 10th, Johnston hooked drives on the 10th and 12th holes into water hazards.
"I nearly walked off the course after 12, to be honest," Johnston said.
"It's been a frustrating year, and yeah, it's really annoyed me in the past. But I spoke to my girlfriend and she just said keep going, so I did and I just tried to stay calm. Luckily I turned it around."
Australian veteran John Senden had an air swing on the par-5 ninth hole after the shaft on his driver flexed and snapped in his grip during his downswing. It left Senden off balance and wringing his right hand and led to a long discussion with the rules officials.
Senden argued unsuccessfully that on feeling the club snap, he attempted to pull out of the shot.
There was no penalty recorded but the shot counted as Senden's second and he went on to make a bogey 6. He shot 72.
"There's no exception, it's just the rule, you can't argue against the rule," Senden said.
"When you intend to hit a shot and you don't hit it it's one stroke, that's the way it goes."
Have you ever seen a driver snap mid-swing?
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 29, 2018
Well, now you have...#AusPGA pic.twitter.com/by0fpsMGcm
