Australia’s small contingent, led by Adam Scott and Jason Day, struggled in the opening round of the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational while Webb Simpson sizzled and Tiger Woods surged late.

Masters champion and 2011 WGC Bridgestone winner Scott stumbled to a three-over-par 73 on the Firestone Country Club layout to be the best of the Australians, a distant nine shots adrift of former US open champion Simpson who shot 64 to lead at six-under.

Swede Henrik Stenson (65) claimed second alone at five-under while world No.1 and seven-time event winner Tiger Woods shared third following a clever 66.

Defending champion Keegan Bradley, fellow American Ryan Moore and Englishman Chris Wood join Woods at four-under.

Scott’s 73 left him tied 54th and nine shots back after a round with three birdies was destroyed by four bogeys and a double bogey.

“I hit a few bad tee shots, a few pulls, which was a bit ordinary,” Scott lamented.

“It is tricky around here when you are in the rough under the trees. It becomes 50/50 if you can make par or not.”

Day sits tied 63rd in the 73-man no-cut event after the 25-year-old opened with a bogey, added another on the fifth and double bogey on the sixth before clawing back slightly with birdies on eight and 10.

But rather than rescue the round, he added further bogeys at 12 and 14.

Simpson, in his first start at the event, racked up eight birdies and just two bogeys and needed only 22 putts.

“It was a great start. Today was one of those days where I just saw the lines well, and my speed was really good,” Simpson said.

“They were just going in the middle. It was fun to be out there and shoot a low number on a tough golf course.”

Playing the back nine first, Woods – who won the event in 1999-2001, 2005, 2006-07 and 2009 – traded two birdies with two bogeys.

He hit the front side of the course ready to rumble making three birdies in the first four holes and added another on the eighth to be right in the mix.

“I felt pretty good today,” Woods said.

“I feel very good about what I’m doing with basically my whole swing. I hit a lot of good shots and I had a really good feel for the distance today.”

Brett Rumford’s 76 left him tied for 70th while Australian PGA Champion Daniel Popovic could only manage a 79 on his debut on the world stage to anchor the field in 73rd.