Adam Scott went bogey-free in “the best ball-striking round I’ve had in five years” to put himself in the mix at the PGA Tour’s 2021 opener, the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua resort in Hawaii today.

Scott made five birdies in his opening 68, and at five under par he is just three from the lead held by Americans Justin Thomas and Harris English at 65.

“I've been obviously always working on it, but kind of started feeling it there at Houston and the Masters and managed to keep in the practice something going in the right direction, so it was nice to see that on the course today,” Scott said later.

“I left a couple out there, of course, but took me a few, almost nine holes to kind of settle in and get the speed of the greens. These are some funky greens and I just wasn't comfortable on the front and better on the back.”

Scott, the world No. 17, had an interrupted 2020 because of his contracting Covid-19. “I just had nothing organised coming back from COVID and that momentum was gone and I tried hard and I played okay, but okay gets average results out here.

“I came up with a good plan after the Masters of what I need to do to start here and to get through the next couple months and I'll just tick that off each day and I think that will leave me in a good place.”

The Australian said he had set himself a target of reaching 20 wins on the US Tour (he has 14 now).

“I think that would be a nice little accomplishment for me and obviously winning another major and trying to do a Brooks (Koepka) or a Jordan (Spieth) or a Rory (McIlroy) and win a few really quick. Because quick is important for me at this point.”

Australia’s other participants Marc Leishman (69) and Cameron Smith (70) also started nicely today.

Scores