There’ll be a few nervous deer in the south of the United States given Boo Weekley is heading home soon.

It seems the field at the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast should also be worried about being outgunned by the American.

The keen huntsman and three-time US PGA Tour winner tops the leaderboard following a rain-affected opening round at Royal Pines on Thursday.

Weekley’s six-under par 66 ensured he’ll take a two-shot lead into Friday, leading a group of six players on four-under including defending champion Adam Scott.

The American’s month-long stay in Australia has included equal 15th place finishes at the Australian Masters and Australian Open and, famously, an estimated 40 meat pies.

The 41-year-old tucked into the revamped Royal Pines course like one of those savoury treats, making five birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the par-four 17th.

That eagle was the highlight of the day for the colourful visitor.

“I had 146 (yards) into the hole, was kind of in between clubs and I just figured I had a breeze a little bit into us … took an eight-iron and choked it down a little bit,” he said.

“As soon as I got up in the air, got flying towards it and I like ‘get right, be right’ and then one hop and it went in the hole.”

Weekley, who admits he loves the smell of gunpowder, is planning to ditch the clubs for his rifle when he gets home next week.

Landing a trophy buck will be on his Christmas wish-list, though having the Joe Kirkwood Cup on his mantelpiece would also be a welcome addition.

Not that Weekley will be kicking himself if his fine start doesn’t translate across the four days of the tournament.

“I could be doing something worse besides playing golf,” he said.

“I’ve done that. I worked at the plant for three years so I know what manual labour is. Every day I might not have my best game but at least every day I’m thankful that I’m able to play this game and play at the level I play it.”

Scott also made eagle on Thursday, at the par-five 15th and was happy to notch the first under-par first round of his Australian swing.

The world No.3 though expects he’ll have to keep scoring low to defend his title.

Scott is joined at four-under by several players including youngster James Marchesani and Korean Jin Jeong, who was through 12 holes when play was called off as a second storm rolled in from the south-west.

Play is scheduled to resume on Friday at 5.30am AEST with half the field still to complete their opening rounds.