Australian Paul Gow fired a course record to upstage Colin Montgomerie, Greg Norman and Nick Faldo on the first day of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney yesterday.

Gow, who played for his country in last week's World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, collected nine birdies on the way to an eight-under-par 64 to lead by two from last season's Australasian Order of Merit leader Jarrod Moseley and rookie Brendan Jones.

Paul McGinley was one shot further back after an opening round of 67.

Six-time major champion Faldo, playing for the first time without his caddie of 10 years, Fanny Sunesson, shot a fourunder 68, two ahead of Norman, who failed to capitalise on still morning conditions.

Meanwhile, Paul Harrington made a solid start to the Casio World Open in Ibusiki, Japan, with an opening 70 to trail the leaders Taichi Teshima and Hank Kuehne by three shots.