Backed by a rich Australian history at the Canadian Open, four golfers from down under have brushed aside first-round weather delays to be hot on the heels of the leaders.
With eight Australian victories at the event, including Jason Day and Greg Norman, US PGA Tour rookie Curtis Luck and countryman Cameron Percy fired rounds of four-under-par 68 at Toronto's Glen Abbey course on Thursday.
They were joined in a share of 33rd by compatriots Brett Drewitt and Ryan Ruffels but, due to dangerous weather halting play in the afternoon, the duo were among 14 golfers unable to complete their rounds.
All four Aussies sit three off the pace set by Americans Ollie Schniederjans, Hudson Swafford, Brandon Hagy, Matt Every and Kevin Chappell (65) at seven-under.
Two-times Masters champion Bubba Watson (66) headlines an 11-way tie for sixth place at six-under.
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Perth 20-year-old Luck believes he can climb further up the leaderboard during the second round after grinding out a score despite a poor ball-striking display.
The 2016 US Amateur champion hit a dismal four fairways and 11 greens in regulation.
"If I don't hit it poorly like I did I can put some lower numbers on the board these next three rounds but it's inspiring to know I still scraped out a good score," Luck said.
Sitting seven places outside the all-important top-125 golfers on the FedEx Cup standings, 43-year-old Percy drained a 17-foot eagle putt on the last to remain on track in his quest to retain a Tour card for 2018.
"Putts like that really help. I didn't have my best stuff for the whole round but I hung tough," Percy said.
World No.1 Dustin Johnson, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 54th at last week's British Open, declared his intentions with a 67 to sit at five-under in a tie for 17th.
"The golf swing feels back to where it should be," Johnson said.
"I'm hitting the shots that I want to with irons and that's the thing that's been struggling, so hopefully I can keep it going."
Next best of the Australian contingent is Greg Chalmers (72), while Geoff Ogilvy (73), Matt Jones (74) and Cameron Smith (77) all finished day one over par.
Australia's strong record at the 108-year-old Canadian Open includes wins for world No.6 Day (2015), Nathan Green (2009) and Norman (1984, 1992).
