The 36-year-old fired a round of 69 to finish the first day in a tie for 21st place at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney on Thursday.

Leishman, who started on the back nine early on Thursday morning, managed the sweltering and smokey conditions in Sydney to hit four birdies through his opening 18 holes of the tournament.

His birdies came on the 12^th, 14^th, 18^th and seventh holes but bogeys on the fourth and 13^th pegged his score back to two-under.

"It would have been nice to have a few lower but I am happy with that," Leishman told Seven Sport.

"Coming off a month off I knew my game was in a good spot but whether it is match fit or not you don't know so I'm happy with two-under and it definitely gives me something to build on for the rest of the week.

"Hopefully I can have a low one tomorrow and keep myself right in it."

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The Warrnambool export trails amateurs Takumi Kanaya (Japan) and Chun-An Yu (Taiwan), who stormed out of the blocks firing an impressive six-under 65, by four shots heading into Friday's second round.

Kanaya and Yu both showed they belonged amongst the big players during their first 18 holes of the tournament.

Leishman said slight adjustments he made to his swing with coach Denis McDade had gone well in the opening round.

"I made a few changes with Denis trying to get rid of bad habits that had crept in and it is feeling good and we will see how it goes," he said.

"Hopefully I'll get it under pressure this weekend and we can test it there."

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