Appleby on top at Australian Open

Stuart Appleby laboured through a dreadful year in the United States in 2009, but
there was a noticeable skip back in his step as he took a share of the lead after
the first round of the $1.5 million Australian Open on Thursday.
Appleby needs to rely on his previous stellar play to remain on the US PGA Tour next
season, having finished a lowly 137th on the moneylist and plummeting all the way to
No.150 in the world rankings.
But he has put himself in contention to end the year on a high and charge into 2010
after a brilliant opening round six-under 66 at NSW Golf Club.
He is level with Queenslander Scott Hend, but Appleby had by far the worse of the
conditions at the windswept course in a round lasting almost six hours to be the
stand-out performer of the day.
He also has the benefit of a morning tee time in the second round.
James Nitties (67), Stephen Allan (68) and Adam Scott (68) all took advantage of the
perfect morning conditions, while John Daly shot an even par round of 72 and
pre-tournament favourite Geoff Ogilvy struggled to a 73.
Appleby looks like the man to catch, however, having shown promising signs in an
eighth-placed finish at last month's Australian Masters before taking another leap
forward at La Perouse.
"I started a lot of rounds of golf really excited about what was going on and
finished the day just going, 'What happened?'," he said.
"All year I wasn't able to get that final bit of confidence.
"(But) I like the way I'm playing, I like the way I'm putting and I haven't had
enough of that this year."
There were red numbers all over the leaderboard early in the day as players tamed
the coastal NSW layout.
But it was a very different proposition in the afternoon, as a fierce north-easterly
wind had players scrambling to make it back to the clubhouse in one piece.
Journeyman Hend, who has spent time in the US, Europe and Asia without ever really
establishing himself, was one player grateful to tee off early.
"It's just great to get out there when there's hardly any wind at all and you can
just play your shots," he said.
"It's just a great place to be, so relaxing on the golf course."
It was a sentiment certainly not shared by some of the players, with Andrew Good
propping up the field following a 20-over round of 92, while Richie Gallichan (89),
Max Kellner (88) and Damon Welsford (86) all fell victim to the swirling winds.