Rory McIlroy's Australian Open title defence has begun in a steady fashion, but it was Australian Aron Price who set the pace on the opening morning of the tournament in Sydney.
McIlroy finished with a two under 69 in the first round of The Open at The Australian Golf Club, tied for third and one shot behind leader Price.
Price hit five birdies on an impressive morning, but a slip up on the par four first hole when he hit a bogey was his only downfall.
American Conrad Shindler also has a share of the lead with two holes remaining.
McIlroy, the world No.1, hit three birdies and two bogeys in an up and down morning in wet conditions.
It was a similar slow start to last year's campaign, when the Northern Irishman stormed home to lift the trophy with a one shot victory over Australian Adam Scott at Royal Sydney, despite trailing the Australian by seven shots after the first round.
"It took me a while to get going," McIlroy said.
"It felt like the wind was blowing pretty strongly when we teed off but around the middle it eased off."
Scott, the World No.2, teed off just after midday alongside American Jordan Spieth and Australian Masters champion Nick Cullen.
However it didn't begin well for Scott, hitting a double bogey on the opening hole.
Starting on the back nine, McIlroy birdied the 14th but a slip up on the par three 15th saw him slip back to even par with a bogey.
He then went back to one under with a birdie on the par four first in front of the clubhouse, before another birdie on the fifth saw him move to two under.
But a bogey on the par four seventh saw him drop back to one under, parring the final two holes to head to the scorers hut inside the top 10 for the morning session.
Adam Crawford, Richard Green are also tied for third with McIlroy with two under.
Australian Andre Stolz had a horror morning, battling through injury to post 12 over, which included nine bogeys, two double bogeys as well as a birdie on the 14th.
