Scott signed for a two-under-par 68 to be well-placed tied for sixth at the weather-hit championship in Rochester, outside New York.

But the former World No.1 will be livid after leaving his ball in the greenside bunker and taking a dreaded double-bogey six at the last hole.

Scott also missed a five-foot birdie putt on the 16th that would have given him the outright lead at the season's second major.

Alas, barely half an hour later, he found himself three shots behind PGA Tour rookie Eric Cole from America.

Cole was five-under through 14 holes before the horn sounded to signal the suspension of play after the championship's start was earlier delayed almost two hours because of frost.

Bryson DeChambeau is the clubhouse leader after posting a four-under 66.

American former World No.1s Dustin Johnson and Scottie Scheffler and Canadian Corey Connors are the only other players ahead of Scott after firing 67s.

Scott is the only Australian in red numbers after Open Champion Cameron Smith carded a two-over 72 and Jason Day crashed back to earth with a first-round 76 after his win last week.

Backing up from his drought-breaking victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson, Day’s six-over-par round with no birdies leaves him 11 shots off the pace.

Meanwhile Scott avoided the early-morning frost and cold weather and, with three monster drives of 365 yards each, took full advantage of the more comfortable conditions until his last-hole mishap.

Playing in his 87th consecutive major, tying Tom Watson in second place behind only the great Jack Nicklaus' 146, Scott charged to a share of the lead with five birdies and just one bogey in his first 14 holes.

But he lost momentum with a missed short putt on 16, then had to save par from almost six feet on 17 before finding the greenside trap on 18 after another great drive before leaving his first bunker shot in the sand and only just getting the next attempt onto the green.

Scott’s bogey attempt then came up short, leaving a tap in for a 68 that should have been much better.

Cam Davis is the next-best Australian after starting with a 71 but will also be irritated after recording a double bogey on the 17th having been under par for most of the day.

Smith mixed three birdies with five bogeys in his round of 72, while Min Woo Lee posted a 73 and Lucas Herbert shot 75.

Making his major championship, David Micheluzzi was seven-over-par through 15 holes before the stoppage.