MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Adam Scott birdied five of his final eight holes Thursday for a 7-under 64 and an early three-stroke lead at the Australian Masters.
Scott lost in playoffs in two previous appearances at Huntingdale Golf Club in 2002 and 2003. He has won the tournament at two other nearby sand belt courses - in 2012 at Kingston Heath and 2013 at Royal Melbourne
Opening on the back nine, Scott made the turn in 2-under 33. He birdied the second, third and fourth holes on the front nine, added another on the par-5 seventh and finished with a birdie on the ninth.