Matt Jones and Geoff Ogilvy are the best-placed Australians after the first round of the US PGA Tour's Wells Fargo Championship.
The pair shot three-under-par 69s to be tied 13th, four shots behind leader Robert Streb.
Streb had a flawless round with seven birdies on the Quail Hollow course to take a one-shot lead over fellow Americans Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell.
"It's the first time in a while I feel like I have my putter working," Streb said.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy appeared on the verge of making a late run at the leaderboard before making a double bogey on the difficult par-3 17th hole.
McIlroy appeared stunned when his tee shot hit the rock wall in front of green and his ball caromed high into the air and into the water. He finished with a two-under 70.
"One big mistake," McIlroy said.
Despite the error, McIlroy said overall he was pleased with his round.
"I did what I wanted to," said McIlroy, who won the event in 2010 for his first PGA Tour title.
"I took advantage of the par 5s and made birdie on a couple of par fours."
Australia's Cameron Percy also opened with a 70 to be tied 30th while, of his countrymen, Adam Scott battled to a 71, Steven Bowitch had a 73, Robert Allenby and Aaron Baddeley were well back after 74s and Jarrod Lyle posted a 75.
Many of the world's top players skipped the event, including Players winner Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson while Ernie Els withdrew because of a muscle strain.
