Defending champion Adam Scott struggled in the wind while Queensland golfer Michael Wright made the most of the conditions in the opening round of the Australian Masters.

The world No.2 Scott, who is gunning for a third successive Masters title, shot a one-over-par 73 in blustery conditions at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne on Thursday.

That left him back in the pack, tied 42nd among the morning starters and six shots behind joint leaders Wright and Stephen Allan.

It could have been significantly worse for Scott had he not managed a late eagle on the par-5 sixth – his 15th hole after starting on the back nine.

“A strong northerly (wind) from the get go was always going to make it tough,” said Scott.

“Unfortunately I came a little unstuck on 18 and I was scrambling for the rest of the day from there but I managed to salvage a couple of shots and walked off feeling not too bad.”

Scott played in a group with 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and 16-year-old amateur Ryan Ruffels, who signed for a three-over.

Ogilvy finished with a three-under 69 and in a group tied for fourth while Lismore golfer Rhein Gibson, who lives in Oklahoma, was at four-under.

Ogilvy described the wind – which gusted up to 60 km/hr – as some of the toughest conditions he had played in Melbourne.

“It was windy from the first hole and we had the tougher nine to start in the northerly,” Ogilvy said.

“I hit the ball better and better as the day went on.”

Wright said it was like the “wild west” but the wind suited his game, with back-to-back birdies on the eighth and ninth holes.

“It was brutal out there,” 40-year-old Brisbane golfer Wright said.

“I hit the ball underground, really low, so it’s suits me to a tee.”

Wright didn’t hole any putts of great length but was really consistent.

He said Metropolitan was the first golf course he ever played in Melbourne and in that round carded a six-under.

“I love the place,” he said.