Three older golfers share the lead, but most people were talking about the young guns - defending champion Aaron Baddeley and American Matt Kuchar - after the first round of the Australian Open at Kingston Heath, Melbourne.

Baddeley, who won the tournament last year as an amateur, and Kuchar, the 1997 US Amateur champion, fired rounds of three-under 69 to be in a group of four a shot off the lead. Australians Peter O'Malley and Paul Gow and New Zealander Greg Turner share the lead on 68.

"I was looking forward to getting out there," said Baddeley, who is playing his first professional tournament in his home country. "I was a bit nervous, but I got a good drive away at the first and everything was pretty good after that."

Baddeley's round was marked by the boldest tee-shot of the day - a 320-yard bullet fired at the 11th green. All day the older professionals pulled out four-irons at the same hole to lay up short of the bunkers in the centre of the fairway. But Baddeley went straight for his driver and knocked his ball 60 yards past the pots and only 85 yards short of the green. His reward was a birdie, even though it required a 15-foot putt.

That got Baddeley to three under, a position he maintained for the remainder of a round during which he spent much of his time with his eyes closed. Baddeley got into the habit during a bad patch about four years ago and it has become a part of his game again over the past 18 months.

"It's like daydreaming," he said. "I close my eyes and visualise shots. It works for me."

Australian Robert Allenby and Pierre Fulke of Sweden were also in the group a stroke back after opening 69s.

Norman, who won the Australian Open in 1995 when it was last played at Kingston Heath, shot 72, England's Nick Faldo had a 71 and American Mark O'Meara 76.