Adam Scott has made a solid start to his first tournament in more than two-and-a-half months, sitting inside the top 10 early in the opening round of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship.

Scott, who is using a short putter for the first time in four years, is two-under-par through nine holes to be tied seventh, but sits a distant six shots back of runaway leader Ryan Moore.

American Moore is on fire in blustery conditions on the Blue Monster course at Trump Doral, carding eight birdies in 13 holes, including six in a seven-hole stretch, to be eight under.

Fellow American JB Holmes is second and the only player keeping pace at seven under through 10, with four players tied third at three under.

Scott warmed into his round with seven straight pars, never seeing a birdie chance inside 20 feet with his new short putter and claw grip.

But he rolled in a 13-footer for birdie on the par-5 eighth and the world No.5 backed it up with a seven-foot birdie on the ninth.

Playing with Scott, world No.4 Jason Day cancelled out two early birdies when he found water on the eighth to make double bogey but rebounded with a birdie on nine to be one under.

John Senden, Steven Jeffress and Geoff Ogilvy were all even on the card heading into their last nine holes, while Greg Chalmers is two over through eight.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy is struggling at three over through 13 holes to be tied 63rd in the 74-man field.