A rampant Adam Scott has smashed the Royal Sydney course record with an opening-round 62 at the Emirates Australian Open. Australia&aposs top player seized control of the Open and put himself on track for the coveted triple crown of tournaments with a virtually flawless round in beautiful early-morning conditions, making 10 birdies and eight pars. Six consecutive birdies to start the day had huge galleries flocking to the group of Scott, Jason Day and American Kevin Streelman, who started out from the 10th tee at 7.10am. The crowds were some of the biggest seen on a weekday in Sydney, and comparable to the halycon days of Greg Norman. Scott hit it close at the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th for birdies then went on a run of eight consecutive pars. He lipped out for birdie from two metres at the short par-four first hole as his momentum stalled. Then he caught fire again, maing birdie at the par-three sixth, another at the par-four seventh hole after a bombed drive, again at the eighth and then put the exclamation mark on by hitting a sand wedge to within a metre of the flag at the his last, the ninth hole. “The swing was where I wanted it so I just went for it,&apos&apos he said later. “Steve (caddie Steve Williams) and I have felt there was a low one in there.&apos&apos Scott&aposs round breaks the previous course record at Royal Sydney of 65, held by several players. But he said he regarded his 62 at Muirfield Village a few years ago as his best career round. He also shot a final-round 61 to win the Qatar Masters in the Middle East in 2008. The Queenslander is seeking to complete the full set of the main home tournaments — the PGA Championship, the Talisker Masters and the Australian Open in the same season. Only Robert Allenby has done it, in 2005.
Author: Martin Blake at Royal Sydney