Adam Scott made a brilliant eagle as he turned in 35 to sit just two shots off the lead as the 2017 European Tour season got under way at the Australian PGA Championship.
The home favourite was in the second group out from the tenth at RACV Royal Pines Resort and that big bird on the par five 12th helped him to one under, two shots behind Greg Chalmers, Ryan Fox and Paul Waring.
Challenge Tour rankings winner Jordan Smith had the honour of hitting the first tee-shot of the season but it was Chalmers who made the big early move.
The two-time champion birdied the tenth and the 12th, with playing partner Scott making his eagle after getting on in two and then holing a 40-footer.
Chalmers made further birdies on the 14th and 16th but dropped a shot on the next while Scott bogeyed the 18th, a hole he and Chalmers played seven times in a play-off in 2014 before the latter prevailed.
New Zealander Fox had birdies on the third, fourth and ninth to sit three under through ten holes, while Englishman Waring holed out from the fairway on the sixth to add to a birdie on the third in his first six holes.
Daniel Popovic turned in 34 to sit a shot off the lead alongside Nick Cullen and Thailand's Natipong Srithong who had both played eight holes.
Scott was then in a large group of players at one under including 2014 Ryder Cup winner Stephen Gallacher and four-time champion Robert Allenby.
