Adam Scott's first competitive round as the world's top-ranked player featured two contrasting nines as he finished five strokes off the early lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Australian, who dislodged Tiger Woods from the game's pinnacle on Monday, struggled to an outward four-over-par 39 at Colonial Country Club before making three birdies after the turn to card a one-over 71 in the opening round.

That left Scott well behind New Zealander Tim Wilkinson, who reeled off four birdies in a flawless 66 to set the early pace in the PGA Tour event won five times by golfing great and one-time Fort Worth resident Ben Hogan.

“I thought I actually hit plenty of good shots and played from the fairway for four over, so it wasn’t ideal,” Scott told reporters about his start after teeing off at the par-four 10th. “But I managed to tighten up on the back and make a couple of putts.”

Scott, just the second Australian to become number one following Greg Norman’s final reign which ended in 1998, bogeyed the 11th, 15th, 17th and 18th as he limped to the turn.