Surrounded by shrubs and long grass, the Warrnambool golfer had to take a fair step down to get to his ball during day one of the Australian Open.

"I missed the fairway and went just right," he said.

"There was a ditch about a foot wide, three feet tall, 10 metres off the fairway and I went in it.

"I didn't even know it was there."

He took a penalty drop before racking up a dreaded double bogey on his scorecard.

The 26-year-old was conscious not to let being unlucky on the 13th derail his opening round.

"I've got to the stage where I realise when you have a bad hole, you have to get over it," he said.

"There's no point being frustrated for the next few holes because it just does more damage.

"I think just a few years of experience playing on tours have helped me with that."

Leishman's double bogey came after a rosy start which included birdies on the 10th and 12th.

He fired three other birdies - including one on his last hole - and two bogeys yesterday to be one-under-par 71.

He is tied for 19th with 10 other entrants.

The joint leaders are Australians Stuart Appleby and Scott Hend on six -under-par 66.

"I got off to a good start then I had that little hiccup," Leishman said. "I would've liked to be a couple more under.

"For the most part it was good. I putted a lot better than what I did at the masters.

"Hopefully I can hole a few more putts from now on.

"I'm not out of contention.

"I'll try and shoot a good score tomorrow and get right back in it."

Leishman conceded La Perouse, bounded by water on three sides, was challenging.

"It's a completely different course. You're not sure which clubs to pull out."

The 26-year-old started yesterday with a breeze.

"Once it got to about our sixth hole, it started to get pretty windy but it wasn't too bad," he said.

Leishman performed better than the fellow golfers in his marquee group in the opening round.

Aaron Baddeley fired one-over 72 while Rod Pampling finished the day at two-over 74.