Graeme McDowell found himself outputted by Australian amateur sensation, Oliver Goss on the opening day of the Talisker Masters.

Both players carded one under par 71s but with McDowell struggling with the putter in posting 33 putts while the 18-year old Goss, who was third in last fortnight’s Asian Amateur title, had just 27 putts.

The duo head into the second round tied in 20th place and trailing six shots behind Australia’s Matthew Guyant who carded a seven under 65 on the famed Kingston Heath course in Melbourne.

Queenslander Matthew Guyatt heads the field in the Talisker (Australian) Masters. (Photo – www.pgatour.com.au)

Guyatt, who had a hot putter throughout his round and only narrowly missed the course record of 64 held jointly by Anthony Painter (1994), Robert Allenby (2000) and Kurt Barnes (2010) by one shot.

The 37-year-old Queenslander strung together a trio of birdies in his opening nine to make the turn at minus three and then picked up another shot at the easy par-five first – his 10th – to move within one stroke of Scott in the clubhouse lead.

Guyatt then made another three consecutive birdies to take the outright lead, with the pick of those being at 8th, where he rolled in a putt from over 20 feet to move to seven under.

Fellow Queenslander Adam Scott and defending champion, Ian Poulter of England, are already well placed after rounds of 67.

Scott was out bright and early on Thursday morning and managed to make six birdies – including five in seven holes on his second nine – and dropped just the one shot in his round of 67.

It was a case of what could have been for Scott, with the 32-year-old excellent from tee to green, but often let down at the final hurdle by his renowned broomstick putter.

The same can arguably be said for Poulter, with the Englishman looking just at home at Kingston Heath as he did when he won at the Victoria Golf Club last year.

Poulter picked up six birdies on the sandbelt course, with a dropped shot at the par-four 16th the only blemish on his card as he attempts to become just the second man after Greg Norman to defend his Masters title.