Seconds later, the exhaust pipe of one 2005 VZ SS Commodore lay on the road after it ran aground on a speed bump only metres from the club’s famous Peter Thomson statue.

Today, said driver left via the same driveway the solo leader of the men’s ISPS Handa Australian Open by three shots from fellow Victorian Matt Griffin and Kiwi Josh Geary, with six players a shot further back on three-under.

Welcome to the wonderful world of “Micha”.

Having recently broken through for his first professional victory at the West Australian PGA Championship, the proud Cranburnian, is beginning to fulfil the potential that had him within a dull rev of a V8 from being the world’s top amateur in 2019.

And while his name at the loftiest perch in Aussie golf might surprise “theatre-going” golf fans, it won’t shock those who know of his bulldog tenacity.

Nor, more importantly, would it surprise the man himself.

Micheluzzi was clinical in carding a 63 to lead the men's Australian Open. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Micheluzzi, 26, paid with a bogey for one marginally errant approach on the 10th – his first hole today – but then played the next 17 holes eight under par.

His 63 – an equal course record of sorts – threw one very cheeky cat among the big-name pigeons he longs to join in years to come.

So, can he hang with them when the heat is applied later this week?

“Having opportunities to play in these kinds of events, if I keep playing the way I’m playing, maybe,” he said.

“That said, I feel like my game is as good as it’s ever been.

“It’s very hard to tell, but I feel like if I can play solid golf, I can compete.”

Whether or not his car will go the distance, though, might be another story.

“I had a couple of my mates in the back, I‘ll blame them – they weighed the car down,” the car enthusiast said.

“It went over a speed bump and the exhaust ripped off, so if anyone saw an exhaust on the side of the Victoria driveway, that was mine.

“It was pretty funny.

“It actually sounded pretty good – it was quite loud.

“(But) I saw a cop car in the car park before, so lucky that thing is back on because he’d probably `defect’ it,” he said with trademark giggle that might become much better known should his game remain in such “roadworthy” shape this week.