American Boo Weekley holds a two-shot lead over defending champion Adam Scott after the pair completed their opening rounds at the Australian PGA Championship.

Weekley shot a six-under-par 66 in humid conditions at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast to take the clubhouse lead on Thursday with Thailand’s Chirat Jirasuwan a shot back on five under

World No.3 Scott entered the clubhouse level with several others on four under, including New Zealand’s David Smail and West Australian Scott Strange.

The Royal Pines course’s two-faced nature became apparent on the opening morning, with the older back nine providing more scoring opportunities for the field than the remodelled front nine.

Weekley made three birdies, an eagle and a bogey on the back nine to reach the turn at four under, adding two more birdies on the front nine.

Scott made three birdies and an eagle on the par-five 15th but bogeyed the par-four eighth after sending his tee shot into the water.