Rory McIlroy has lamented a ‘wasteful’ opening day at the Australian Open after being plagued by putting woes as he dropped seven shots to leader Adam Scott on Thursday.

Strong from the tee all day, the former world No.1 was far less impressive on the greens – which he admits cost him four shots in the opening round.

McIlroy, who watched Scott birdie his opening six holes over breakfast, finished his three-under round of 69 with a birdie on the 18th but felt his day could’ve been a whole lot better.

Of most concern for the Northern Irishman would’ve been missed short putts on the par five seven and par five 16th, where he three-putted after reaching the green in two shots.

“I felt like it could’ve been a lot better, a lot lower,” McIlroy said afterwards.

“Driving the ball … I feel like the best I ever have.

“It’s just a matter of being more efficient and scoring better.

“… I only played the par fives at one-under. With the way I’m driving I should be playing those at four under.”

The 24-year-old copped the worst of the day’s blustery conditions, missing the relative calm of the morning while Scott went to work.

But with an earlier tee time on Friday, he hopes to get the best of conditions – enabling him to gain ground on the leaders.

“If the forecast stays the way it’s supposed to (I’ll get the best of the conditions),” he said.

“Depending on what happens (weather-wise), I’ll try and go out there and shoot a good score and see what happens tomorrow afternoon for those guys.

“… We’ll get the best of the greens (on Friday) and hopefully I can hole a few.”

McIlroy said it was important to have finished with a birdie, but crucially his five birdies sandwiched bogeys on the course’s two toughest holes – the par fours at 10 and 11.

“I got the most out of it, especially after bogeying ten and 11 to come back and at least shoot something in the 60s was decent,” he said.

Despite conceding seven shots to the world No.2 Scott, McIlroy insisted if conditions suited it was possible to shoot low for the remaining three days.

“It’s very scoreable,” he said.

“You’ve got the four par-fives, some short par fours. You’ve got holes there which are birdie-able.”