Victorian Marcus Fraser bounced back from a terrible start to get within two-shots of the lead midway through the first round of the PGA Championship.

Fraser fired a fighting three-under 67 to be just two behind former US Open winner Jim Furyk who leads at five-under after a sublime 65.

Canadian David Hearn sits one off the clubhouse lead after a 66. World No.1 Tiger Woods struggled to a 71 to be six shots off the early pace in his quest for a 15th major championship.

Fraser, who had struggled of late with form, appeared to be heading for another early exit in a major after opening with back-to-back bogeys.

But the two-time European Tour winner dug deep and rattled off three birdies in his next five holes to get under par and off and running.

A run of pars was then broken up by birdies on 13 and 14, catapulting the Victorian up the leaderboard.

He went close to making birdies on 15, 16 and from off the map on 17 but settled for pars and then scrambled with a 30 foot downhill par save on the last to post his 67.

“It was a good fightback,” Fraser said.

“A bogey, bogey start was pretty standard for the way things are going the last few months but I went out there and just gave it everything I’ve got.

“I’ve been struggling a bit, but everything sort of came together.”

Playing the backside of the course first Woods was two under on his first 12 holes but made bogey on the par five fourth, his 13th and a double bogey on his final hole.

Marc Leishman got through his opening round without wife Audrey going into early labour, shooting a one-over 71.

Matt Jones gave away three shots in his final two holes to back up to 72, the same score John Senden carded to round out the morning Australians.

Big guns Jason Day and Adam Scott plus Geoff Ogilvy and Brett Rumford are out in the afternoon wave.