Adam Scott continued where he left off at Augusta National, posting a three-under 69 to be just one shot off the lead midway through the opening round of the Masters.

Scott carded five birdies and, at one point, led by two but had one major blip with a double bogey, ensuring he’d trail American Bill Haas by one.

It took just nine holes for Scott to join the lead and one hole later he was officially the sole leader in his title defence.

Four birdies in his opening 10 holes had the Queenslander at four-under par, two shots clear of the chasing pack.

But as he stood on the tee at the picturesque par-three 12th he seemed bewildered by the breeze.

His concerns were realised when he left his tee shot woefully short of the target and ended up in Rae’s creek.

After a penalty drop and a reasonable pitch to the green he couldn’t make the six-footer to save bogey, instead dropping two strokes with a double.

The 33-year-old bounced back with birdie on the 14th from about 12 feet and then parred home, including a nice save on the last from the treacherous bank over the back of the green.

Earlier Scott’s opening drive leaked right but the Queenslander stiffed his approach to open his account with a birdie from two and a half feet.

He caught a break when his tee shot found a small section of grass between a bunker and the pine needles and took advantage by hitting a laser approach.

The excitement was too much for one female spectator who fainted behind the green but Scott’s parents, Pam and Phil, were quick to get medical attention her way.

The action continued for Australia’s first green jacket winner with a second birdie on the par three sixth hole to have his name once again around the top of leaderboards at the golfing Mecca.

Another birdie on the par five eighth followed before he slid in a 10-footer on the 10th, the same hole he birdied in last years playoff to win it all.

John Senden traded three birdies on the sixth, 13th and 17th holes with bogeys on the seventh, 10th and 16th to shoot an even-par 72.

Debutant Matt Jones had an eagle and two birdies but also five bogeys to be one-over through 16 holes.

Fellow first-timers Steven Bowditch shot 74 while amateur Oliver Goss was three-over through his first 12 holes.

World No.4 Jason Day was finding the going tough at three-over through 10 holes.