US Masters 2017: Marc Leishman, Jason Day and Adam Scott lead Australian charge

On a day of damage limitation at Augusta National, four of Australia’s five entrants at the 2017 US Masters managed to keep themselves in the contention.

While tournament leader Charley Hoffman turned in arguably the best opening round the tournament has seen with his seven-under-par 65, the rest of the field were involved in a battle to keep themselves in the picture.

With just three players at -2 or better, the Australian pros in the field would all still consider themselves good chances of making some noise on the weekend.

Jason Day launches a tee shot during his first round and Augusta. (AAP)

Marc Leishman, who entered Masters week as the in-form Australian following his recent win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, heads the Down Under contingent at +1.

He was in red numbers after nine holes finding the going a little tougher on the homeward nine.

A bogey on the 18th hole after a poor second shot provided a slightl sour end to his day.

Former world No.1 and USPGA Champions Jason Day is joined by 52-year-old Rod Pampling among a group of players a shot behind Leishman.

The low point of Day’s round came on the par-4 11th when the gusty winds that plagued the field got hold of day’s approach shot. His ball ended up in the water and a double-bogey six was added to his score card.

Birdies on the par-5 15th and short 16th holes were gratefully accepted.

Pampling had a steady but, with back-to-back bogeys on 10 and 11 his lowpoint.

Adam Scott, who broke Australia’ Masters drought with his win in the tournament’s 2013 edition, had a three-over 75 in his first round.

As is often the case with Scott, his putting inside of 10-feet wasn’t anything to write home about.

Bogeys on the final two holes wouldn’t have made his lunch taste any better.

The news was not as good for amateur Curtis Luck. The Australian who earned his place in the field by winning the US Amateur and Asia-Pacific Amateur titles last year battled his way to a six-over-par 78.

One of the five amateurs in the field, Luck is four shots adrift of American Stewart Hagestad  who leads the battle for the amateur medal after one day.