Cameron Smith vows to fight back in Open

Cameron Smith predicts the Australian Open will prove a survival test that he intends to last despite failing to capitalise on better morning conditions on day one.

Teeing off at the 10th, world No.33 Smith was in the mix midway through the first round at The Lakes before a trio of bogeys on his back nine led to a two-over-par 74.

Smith, the highest-ranked Australian in the field, was seven shots behind clubhouse leader Byeong Hun An (67).

But 25-year-old Smith wasn't worried about his deficit, with Thursday's afternoon starters copping 35km/h winds and patches of rain.

And with strong breezes forecast for the remainder of the week, the Queenslander is taking a last-man-standing approach.

"I think with how windy it is, you have to take the bad breaks on the chin and accept the good ones," Smith said of his three birdies and five bogeys.

"You just need to hang in there; I felt I played good today but had a couple of missed putts and mental errors.

"I don't see anyone getting into double digits (under par this week) and if the course firms up it will get really tough."

Smith has experience navigating the tricky Botany golf course, having played the previous two Opens that were held at The Lakes while he was still an amateur.

He squandered a red-hot chance at bagging a top-10 result in 2012 while he missed the cut in 2011.

"This place is always windy; I have played a couple Opens here now and it's always the same," he said.