Thu May 22, 2014 8:07pm EDT
May 10, 2014; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; Adam Scott tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass - Stadium Course. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Adam Scott's first competitive round as golf's top-ranked player featured two contrasting nines as he finished six strokes off the lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The Australian, who dislodged Tiger Woods from the game's pinnacle on Monday, struggled to an outward four-over-par 39 at iconic Colonial Country Club before making three birdies after the turn to card a one-over 71 in the opening round.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> That left Scott well behind long-hitting American Dustin Johnson, who reeled off five birdies in a flawless 65 to take control of the prestigious PGA Tour event won five times by golfing great and Fort Worth resident Ben Hogan.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> "I thought I actually hit plenty of good shots and played from the fairway for four over, so it wasn't ideal," Scott told reporters about his start after teeing off at the par-four 10th.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> "But I managed to tighten up on the back (nine) and make a couple of putts."
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Scott, just the second Australian to become number one following Greg Norman's final reign which ended in 1998, bogeyed the 11th, 15th, 17th and 18th as he limped to the turn.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> However he then upped a few gears, reaching the green in two at the par-five first and two-putting for birdie before picking up another shot at the par-four second where his approach ended up three feet from the hole.
<span id="midArticle_6"/> "All of a sudden, I had the momentum going the way I wanted and I managed to hang on for the next few holes," Scott smiled. "It's a testing golf course. I just have to be a little patient.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> "Sometimes on a course like this, you need to be. Even with a short iron or a wedge in your hand, you can't force it because bogeys are easy to come by."
<span id="midArticle_8"/><span id="midArticle_9"/> HIGH-PROFILE COMPANY
<span id="midArticle_10"/> Scott played the opening round in high-profile company, twice Colonial champion Zach Johnson carding a 70 and his fellow American Jimmy Walker, the FedExCup points leader, returning a 67.
<span id="midArticle_11"/> "It was a fun day," said Walker, who has triumphed a season-high three times on the 2013-14 PGA Tour. "There was a good vibe in the whole group. It was very calm and mellow."
<span id="midArticle_12"/> Dustin Johnson, who clinched his eighth career win on the PGA Tour at the WGC-HSBC Champions in November, birdied four of his first nine holes as he surged to the top of the leaderboard.
<span id="midArticle_13"/> However, he was given a helping hand late in the day by compatriot Hunter Mahan, who had been one ahead before double-bogeying the last for a 66 to finish level with Americans Robert Streb and Harris English, and New Zealander Tim Wilkinson.
<span id="midArticle_14"/> Among those knotted on 67 with Walker were PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and 2013 PGA Tour rookie of the year Jordan Spieth, a native Texan.
<span id="midArticle_15"/> American Boo Weekley, who won last year's title to get his name engraved on the Wall of Champions by the first tee, opened with a 71.
<span id="midArticle_0"/><span id="midArticle_1"/> (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)
<span id="midArticle_2"/>
<span id="articleText"/> (Reuters) - Adam Scott's first competitive round as golf's top-ranked player featured two contrasting nines as he finished six strokes off the lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday.
<span id="midArticle_0"/> The Australian, who dislodged Tiger Woods from the game's pinnacle on Monday, struggled to an outward four-over-par 39 at iconic Colonial Country Club before making three birdies after the turn to card a one-over 71 in the opening round.
<span id="midArticle_1"/> That left Scott well behind long-hitting American Dustin Johnson, who reeled off five birdies in a flawless 65 to take control of the prestigious PGA Tour event won five times by golfing great and Fort Worth resident Ben Hogan.
<span id="midArticle_2"/> "I thought I actually hit plenty of good shots and played from the fairway for four over, so it wasn't ideal," Scott told reporters about his start after teeing off at the par-four 10th.
<span id="midArticle_3"/> "But I managed to tighten up on the back (nine) and make a couple of putts."
<span id="midArticle_4"/> Scott, just the second Australian to become number one following Greg Norman's final reign which ended in 1998, bogeyed the 11th, 15th, 17th and 18th as he limped to the turn.
<span id="midArticle_5"/> However he then upped a few gears, reaching the green in two at the par-five first and two-putting for birdie before picking up another shot at the par-four second where his approach ended up three feet from the hole.
<span id="midArticle_6"/> "All of a sudden, I had the momentum going the way I wanted and I managed to hang on for the next few holes," Scott smiled. "It's a testing golf course. I just have to be a little patient.
<span id="midArticle_7"/> "Sometimes on a course like this, you need to be. Even with a short iron or a wedge in your hand, you can't force it because bogeys are easy to come by."
<span id="midArticle_8"/><span id="midArticle_9"/> HIGH-PROFILE COMPANY
<span id="midArticle_10"/> Scott played the opening round in high-profile company, twice Colonial champion Zach Johnson carding a 70 and his fellow American Jimmy Walker, the FedExCup points leader, returning a 67.
<span id="midArticle_11"/> "It was a fun day," said Walker, who has triumphed a season-high three times on the 2013-14 PGA Tour. "There was a good vibe in the whole group. It was very calm and mellow."
<span id="midArticle_12"/> Dustin Johnson, who clinched his eighth career win on the PGA Tour at the WGC-HSBC Champions in November, birdied four of his first nine holes as he surged to the top of the leaderboard.
<span id="midArticle_13"/> However, he was given a helping hand late in the day by compatriot Hunter Mahan, who had been one ahead before double-bogeying the last for a 66 to finish level with Americans Robert Streb and Harris English, and New Zealander Tim Wilkinson.
<span id="midArticle_14"/> Among those knotted on 67 with Walker were PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and 2013 PGA Tour rookie of the year Jordan Spieth, a native Texan.
<span id="midArticle_15"/> American Boo Weekley, who won last year's title to get his name engraved on the Wall of Champions by the first tee, opened with a 71.
<span id="midArticle_0"/><span id="midArticle_1"/> (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)
<span id="midArticle_2"/>
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