Defending champion Adam Scott found himself upstaged by fellow Australian Nick Cullen who shot a six-under-par 65 – which included six birdies, an eagle on the 11th hole and two bogeys – to lead the opening  round of the Australian Masters at Royal Melbourne.

The 28-year-old holds a two-stroke buffer ahead of recently-crowned Australian PGA champion Scott and Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer who are equal second on four under.

Scott made a steady start after beginning his round at the 11th hole, managing just one birdie in his first eight holes in chilly but benign conditions.

But he brought the adoring galleries to their feet with four birdies in a row on the par-four 1st, par-five 2nd, par-three 3rd and par-four 4th before a bogey on the 8th, his only blemish for the day, took the sheen off a near-faultless opening round for him.

“You need that. You just need a few good holes to have a good score and I was patient,” Scott said.

“I was trying not to get frustrated because I felt like I had left some opportunities out there before my 10th hole

Kieffer didn’t put a foot wrong on Thursday, with his first 18 holes including two birdies and an eagle at 15.

A shot further back from Scott and Kieffer is a group of eight competitors all on three under in a tie for fourth spot.

They are Australians Anthony Brown, Stephen Leaney, Peter O’Malley, Brody Ninyette, Brett Rankin and Nathan Holman, New Zealander Ryan Fox and Zimbabwean Brendon De Jonge.

Scott’s main tournament rival, American world number eight Matt Kuchar, carded an even-par 71 to be equal 29th.

Leukaemia survivor Jarrod Lyle made an emotional return to golf in front of his hometown fans.

The Victorian ended the day one over par and in a share of 38th spot after shooting a 72.