Frustrated Smith slams club as shock Aussie emerges

A surprise contender is leading the charge for Australians at The Masters after a rain-interrupted opening day.

Cam Davis - the world No.62 from Sydney - carded a 3-under 69 on the first day at Augusta National to put himself in a tie for sixth place overnight.

The 29-year-old was rated a $251 chance to win the coveted green jacket by bookmaker Sportsbet before the tournament.

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But he finds himself within touching distance of clubhouse leader Bryson DeChambeau, who leads the field at 7-under heading into day two.

The only other Aussie under par is Cameron Smith, who battled his way to 1-under amid difficult conditions around the famous Georgia course.

Smith was 2-under when he landed his approach shot on the 12th just shy of the green, and his ball rolled backwards into the water.

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A frustrated Smith slammed his club down into his bag in anger. It was a moment that highlighted the brutal nature of the course - Smith's shot was about an inch off being perfect.

The Queenslander double bogeyed the hole to drop back to even, before birdying the 15th to salvage his round.

Jason Day had a large crowd following his group given he's walking around with golf legend Tiger Woods in round one.

The group got through 12 holes before play finished, the start having been delayed by bad weather. Day is even, while Woods sits alongside Smith at 1-under.

Fellow Aussie veteran Adam Scott is 1-over through 13 holes, while rising star Min Woo Lee carded a 2-over for his opening round.

Lee broke his finger in the gym last week, and is now in danger of missing the cut at Augusta.

Australian amateur Jasper Stubbs experienced a serious learning curve in his debut Masters appearance.

Stubbs - the 21-year-old from Victoria - carded an 8-over to sit almost last on the leaderboard overnight.

He shot two birdies to finish the front nine at 1-over, but then had consecutive double bogeys on 15 and 16 to watch his hopes of making the weekend crumble.

DeChambeau birdied his first three holes, made five more birdies over his last seven, and opened with a 65 to take the early lead at the Masters.

It was his best round ever in the season's first major, and only his second score in the 60s.