SYDNEY — Jordan Spieth birdied his opening hole and bogeyed his last during an even-par 71 Thursday that saw the defending champion trail early leader Lincoln Tighe by five strokes on a blustery, hot day at the Australian Open.
In temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit), Spieth started on the 10th hole with a birdie, bogeyed a par-3 on each nine and finished with a 5 on the par-4 ninth at The Australian Golf Club.
Australia's Tighe was the early clubhouse leader with a 66.
Geoff Ogilvy, the 2010 champion who was playing in the same group as Spieth, was two strokes behind after a 68.