Elvis Smylie felt the golfing gods were on his side as the young Australian upstaged global superstar Rory McIlroy to lead the field late in the first round of the Open at Royal Melbourne.

Smylie fired a six-under 65 as the opening round got underway in challenging conditions on Thursday.

Kiwi Ryan Fox, who teed off in the afternoon, trailed by one shot after his 14 holes while Mexican Carlos Ortiz was a stroke further back with eight to play.

Grand slam winner McIlroy had a rollercoaster round on the hot, windswept sandbelt course with 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, his playing partners Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee were both at two-under while fellow Australian Cameron Smith sat at one-under. 

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 famous rock star Elvis Presley, has family sporting pedigree.

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

He had three birdies in succession between the 13th and 15th and 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 foot 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, 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 be 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," former world No.1 Scott said. 

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

"I'm happy with the end results, I mean, it's easy to be critical, but maybe I shouldn't be ... it's very hard to keep it under control out there."

Entering the tournament on the back of seven missed cuts and without an individual tournament win for over two years, Smith found some much-needed form.

With three birdies in four holes between 14 and 17, Smith was let down by three bogies on his back nine but was still satisfied with his round.

"I think it was pretty solid ... I just need a few more of those kind of mid-range putts to go in, that's about it," the LIV Golf star said.