Day, Spieth trail Sydney youngster
Fearless youngster Cameron Davis sees no reason why he can’t contend for the Australian Open title after upstaging Jason Day and Jordan Spieth with a dazzling opening eight-under-par 63.
The 22-year-old from Sydney enjoys a two-stroke lead over unheralded Queenslander Taylor MacDonald, with Day a shot back in a tie for third with former Australian Masters champion Nick Cullen.
Spieth struggled in the windy afternoon conditions to leave himself seven strokes adrift of the lead following a rollercoaster oneunder 70 featuring six birdies and five bogeys.
Matt Jones, the 2015 champion playing alongside Spieth, carded an even-par 71 while Ben Campbell was the leading Kiwi at fourunder, in a tie for fifth.
Davis is part of a hungry new guard of Australian rookies attempting to secure a foothold in the pro tour ranks following stellar amateur careers.
Currently the world No.1494, he took a step in that direction by capitalising on near-perfect early conditions as he secured a shot lead at The Australian on Thursday.
Davis was six under after chipping in on the seventh hole and finished with nine birdies to be just two shots shy of Rod Pampling’s course record 61.
Enjoying the same benign early conditions, Day made eight birdies but paid for a double bogey when he snapped his drive into trees on the ‘‘brutal’’ eighth.
"It felt like eight under,’’ the returning superstar said after his first Open round in four years.
"I think if I can shoot 5, 5, 5, 5 (under) – get it to 20-under, then I’ll have a good chance of winning.’’
Day admitted he’d never heard of Davis, who cashed in on a course where he won the 2015 Australian amateur title.
"It’s very familiar out here,’’ Davis said.
So how will he handle it if he ends up playing alongside Day or Spieth before their big galleries at the weekend?
"I know that they’re there. It’s nice that they’re there because it makes it feel like a really big tournament,’’ Davis said.
"I’m not trying to beat them. I’m trying to play my best golf. If I can keep on doing what I’m doing, I’ll be right up there come Sunday.’’
Davis made his name internationally when he was the lowest individual scorer as he spearheaded Australia’s stunning
19-shot win in the world amateur teams championship in Mexico last year.
Turning pro not long after, he played the McKenzie Tour in Canada this year but lost his card and faces a tough week at next month’s web.com Tour final qualifying as he attempts to secure a future in the US next year.
Big results at the Australian Open and next week’s Australian PGA would also greatly help his future.
"At the moment the web.com Tour would be it so I have to really try and make the most of these next couple of weeks because otherwise it is all up in the air.’’
● Meanwhile New Zealand golfer Brad Shilton won himself a flash new watch with a hole-in-one on day one at the tournament.
The journeyman pro made his ace on a par three hole which offered the first player to register a hole-in-one at the prestigious tournament in Sydney a Tag Heuer watch worth $17,000 from the sponsors.