Sergio Garcia one off early lead at Australian PGA Championship

Sergio Garcia fired a bogey-free 67 to get within one stroke of the early lead after the opening round of the Australian PGA Championship.

The Masters champion, chasing a fourth victory of 2017, struck five birdies in a flawless display at RACV Royal Pines Resort to stay in touch with pacesetters Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland.

Zunic fired five birdies in a seven-hole stretch around the turn and eagled the ninth - his final hole - to set the clubhouse target at six under, which Bland matched despite bogeying the par-four last.

Marc Leishman is alongside Garcia in the five-way tie for third after birdieing two of his final three holes, as Adam Scott closed his round with back-to-back gains to sit in the group on one under.

Playing in the weather-affected morning session, where play was briefly halted twice due to heavy rain, Garcia reached the turn in 34 and added gains at the third, sixth and eighth to briefly top the leaderboard.

Golf

Bland surged into contention with six birdies in seven holes from the fifth and added another at the 16th on his way to a six-under 66, while Zunic posted six birdies and an eagle to share the advantage.

Home trio Peter Senior, Daniel Nesbit and Michael Wright also sit on five under with Garcia and Leishman, while Cameron Smith is one of seven Australian players in the group two off the pace.

Scott, switching back from the standard putter to the long putter he used during his Masters win in 2013, mixed five birdies with two bogeys and a double-bogey to sit in a share of 41st spot.

Watch the Australian PGA Championship throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage continues with second round highlights on Friday from 8.30am.