Major championship debutante Matt Griffin is another stroke further back after carding an even par 70.

The Aussie half dozen were all pleased with their opening rounds and are happy to be within close range of the leading American trio Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar, who are five under.

“In the 60s, first round of a major is a good start. It could have been a couple better, sure, but you can't really look at it like that. I think it's a good, solid start,” Scott said of his round, which included three birdies and two bogies.

“I stroked it (the putter) well today. I made them (putts) early and didn't make them late. Probably not going to make them all week, but if you keep hitting good putts they'll go in. So I was quite happy with it.

Adam Scott was pleased with how he putted in the opening round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

“I had a couple of lazy swings out there that were fairly straightforward that I hit into trouble and cost me a shot there on 13, and a couple sloppy ones coming in that I got away with. So I'd like to tidy that up certainly for the rest of the week.”

Day, who has not played competitively since the US Open, said he was particularly pleased with his ball-striking through the middle of the round.

“Through the mid part of my round I felt great,” he said. “I started seeing the shots come out exactly the way I wanted to. And that's really good, because I've been working very hard at home trying to make sure that what I see out there and how I hit it – it won't come out perfect every single time, but during the middle part of my round I started gaining a lot of confidence.”

Aaron Baddeley made very few errors in his first round 69. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Baddeley, who returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour almost 12 months to the day, said he was happy to be back playing in a major championship and feels comfortable on the course.

“It was a solid day, I didn’t do a whole lot wrong,” said Baddeley, who has been preparing at Royal Birkdale for a week. “My game is in a really good spot and I’m quite confident with it at the moment.

“One under has me in the tournament and who knows what is going to happen with weather, especially tomorrow.”

Andrew Dodt birdied his last three holes to get to one under. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The weather forecast for Friday’s second round was a post-round talking point with all the Aussies, who will be out on course early before the worst of the predicted wild weather – rain with 30km to 50km an hour winds – blows in off the Irish Sea.

If, as predicted, the weather gets gradually worse during day, the Australians will have a great opportunity to advance on the leaderboard.

HOW THE AUSSIES STAND

“Tomorrow's weather conditions will be really interesting, because I think it's going to be windy, and that will spread the field,” Scott said. “If the leaders play well, they'll create some space.

“So if it is windy, I've got to hang in there and somehow post a good number, so I'm not too far off the pace.”

Day said he believes bad weather brings a fighting spirit out in his game.

“I feel like I play better in worse weather,” he said. But saying that, I really don't want to walk around in the rain tomorrow in 35-miles-an-hour wind and the cold. But if I have to, I have to. That's just what you have to do to try to win The Open Championship.

Marc Leishman says he is well prepared for the bad weather predicted for round two. PHOTO: Getty Images.

“I think that currently we are on the better side of the draw, compared to this morning. And that's the luck of the draw sometimes. We've just got to wake up tomorrow try to battle not only the golf course but the elements and try to beat the course.”

ROUND TWO TEE TIMES

Leishman said he was ready for whatever Mother Nature wants to dish out.

“I’ll have six gloves in the bag … I’ve even tested out some rain gloves and they go fine,” he said.

At one over, Queensland’s Scott Hend is not without his chances but the remaining Australians – Cameron Smith (74), Adam Bland (75), Ashley Hall (75) and Ryan McCarthy (76) – will all have to improve on their opening rounds to play the weekend.