Elvis Smylie felt the golfing gods were on his side as the young gun upstaged global superstar Rory McIlroy to claim a share of the lead after the opening round of the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.

Smylie made light of tough morning conditions on Thursday to fire a six-under 65 to be the only local in the top six.

For much of the day it seemed likely the 23-year-old would hold on to the outright lead, only for Kiwi Ryan Fox to storm home late with four birdies in his final six holes to also sign for a 65.

They were then matched by Mexican LIV golfer Carlos Ortiz, who was one of only two golfers to eagle the par-five 17th.

Fox, the son of former All Blacks great Grant Fox, missed the chance to take the outright lead, with his birdie attempt on the 18th lipping out.

"I had a good putt on 18, so I can't complain - it was a tough day out there today," said Fox, who won twice on the PGA Tour this year.

"I was very, very happy with the score."

Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Frenchman Clement Charmasson and Scotsman Cameron Adam were tied for third at four under.

McIlroy, the reigning Masters champ and sixth member of golf's exclusive grand slam club, had a roller-coaster round on the hot, windswept sandbelt course, the world No.2 finishing at one over with five birdies against six bogeys.

With the tournament drawcards met by thousands of fans out for the early tee times, McIlroy's playing partners Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee were both at two under in a tie for 13th.

Having missed the halfway cut in all seven non-LIV events he has contested this year, fellow Australian Cameron Smith was looking at the positives after carding a one-under 70.

Smylie's performance continued his stunning trajectory over the past 12 months since winning the 2024 Australian PGA Championship, finishing his maiden year 23rd in the DP World Tour in the Race to Dubai rankings.

With his mum Liz a four-time grand slam tennis doubles winner, the Queenslander, who was named after late rock star Elvis Presley, has family sporting pedigree.

Playing on the composite course alongside 2022 British Open champion Smith and former Masters champion Danny Willett of England, Smylie opened with a bogey on the 10th but never looked back.

He had three birdies in succession between the 13th and 15th, then added a further four on his back nine.

Playing on the par-four first, which was his 10th, Smylie's wayward shot over the green hit a spectator before rolling back into position for him to make birdie.

"I don't think it hit him hard fortunately, and then it ricocheted to about five feet and I was able to roll that in," Smylie said.

"So I think when things like that happen, you just know that the golf gods are on your side for the day."

At home at Royal Melbourne, where he has signed for a 63 on the west course, Smylie, who shares coach Ritchie Smith with Lee, felt he had the game to go all the way.

"It just goes to show how much I've learnt over on the DP World Tour,'' he said.

"Week in, week out, you're always adjusting and adapting as the courses and climates are so different, so you're constantly adding tools to your toolbox. 

"I embrace days like today. I think I belong, and I know that, and I believe that and I'm just happy that I'm able to showcase that on a stage like this."

Winner of the 2009 Australian Open, Scott had one of the holes of the day on the par-five 14th when he nailed a superb approach and then drained a 12-foot putt for eagle.

"It was a great day - I mean, playing with Rory and Min and fighting to get to the 10th tee this morning with the crowds was good fun," the former world No.1 said. 

"The course held up well, even in some of the most challenging wind I've probably ever played out here."