Percy leads Aussie contingent in US PGA

Cameron Percy has emerged as a surprise leading Australian after a weather-interrupted opening round at the US PGA Tour event in Los Angeles.

Adam Scott, of Australia

Adam Scott's 2017 season is officially under way in the first round of the US PGA Tour Genesis Open. (AAP)

Unheralded golfer Cameron Percy has upstaged big-name compatriots Jason Day and Adam Scott to be the leading Australian after a weather-interrupted Genesis Open first round.

Percy fired a five-under-par 66 to sit two shots behind Sam Saunders (64) at the US PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club, before bad light halted play with 48 players still to complete the opening round.

Saunders, the grandson of the late Arnold Palmer, will take a two-shot lead into the second round over Percy, world No.3 Dustin Johnson and three others.

In his first US PGA Tour event for 2017, world No.7 Scott showed no signs of off-season rust with a bogey-free 68 leaving him in a tie for 18th.

World No.1 Day limped to an even-par score and completed only 16 holes to be tied 74th.

"The good news today was there were no dropped shots," said Scott.

"It's going to get soft if it rains and it will play a little longer but the greens will be receptive and scoring will be better."

With only conditional status on the US PGA Tour, Percy received entry to the Genesis Open courtesy of a top-10 finish at last week's Pebble Beach Pro Am.

The 42-year-old had never played the famed Los Angeles course until Thursday's round.

"It was great because I've never played this event and everyone had told me Riviera suits my accuracy off the tee," said Percy.

"It felt great to take full advantage of last week's finish; I drove it really well today and made putts when I needed to."

Marc Leishman (67) is a shot further back at four under tied for seventh, while youngster Cameron Smith shares 30th at two under.

Aaron Baddeley, the 2005 champion at Riviera, and John Senden (70) are tied for 51st at one under.

Other Australians in the field include Greg Chalmers (72), Geoff Ogilvy (one over through 14) and Steven Bowditch (78).


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Source: AAP



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