John Senden takes Round 1 lead in Australian Open

• John Senden leads first round of Australian Open by two strokes after 66
• Senden had eight birdies to overcome consecutive bogeys
• Group of five trails him at 68

SYDNEY (AP) — John Senden shot a six-under-par 66 in calm morning conditions to take a two-stroke lead after Thursday's first round of the Australian Open.

"The golf course is in beautiful shape," Senden said. "We had the perfect conditions this morning, teeing off at 7 o'clock."

Senden had eight birdies but back-to-back bogeys at The Lakes while Englishman Justin Rose, who birdied three of his first four holes, was level with Australians Kim Felton, Brendan Jones and Richard Green and Gareth Paddison of New Zealand after 68s.

Rose dropped his only shot of the day when he fluffed a greenside flop shot on the par-4 third hole, his 12th of the round.

"I decided to try and hit the high, sexy lob — that didn't really come off," Rose said.

Senden had a consistent year on the U.S. PGA Tour, making 19 cuts from 22 events, including five top-10 finishes.

"The results have shown in the past couple of years. I have been inside the top 30 and been consistent," Senden said. "I have taken those feelings and brought them home to Australia. I feel I can keep improving and keeping knocking on the door in every event I play."

Adam Scott, who practiced with a new putter earlier in the week, used his old broomstick-style blade on Thursday and missed a four-foot birdie attempt on his opening hole before shooting 72.

"I would have loved to play better, but there's 54 holes to go. That's a lot of golf to play," Scott said.

Scott's current putter which he anchors to his chest will be banned in 2016 in proposed rule changes by golf's governing bodies.

Among the high afternoon scores in gusting winds were eight-time major champion Tom Watson, who had a 78, and 14-year-old Chinese amateur Guan Tianling, who is likely to miss the halfway cut after an 82.

Contesting the Australian Open for the first time since winning the tournament in 1984, Watson lost six shots to par over four holes from the fifth to the eighth.

"I'm embarrassed," Watson said.