Just 17 players finished Round 1 under par but none did it in quite the manner of Hensby, the Tamworth native making just three pars in his round of 3-under 67 to share the Round 1 lead with three-time major champion Padraig Harrington.

Of the 13 Australasian players in the field, Kiwi Steven Alker (69) was the only one to join Hensby in red figures, Hensby scratching his head after going out in 6-under 30 but making five bogeys in an inward nine of 3-over 37.

“Obviously I felt like I left some out there,” said Hensby.

“It’s just frustrating. I played like s*** the back nine. What else can you say?

“But I’ve never been a very consistent player. I’m hot or cold, and that kind of sucks. Certain shots I keep hitting during rounds, it just pisses me off, so to speak. So yeah, the back nine was just kind of a bit of that.”

One of very few Aussies with wins on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, Hensby has finished inside the top 25 in each of his past eight starts, his best result a tie for eighth at the Principal Charity Classic.

“I’ve been playing decent all year,” added the 53-year-old.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve played great this year. I think I’ve only had one top 10 on the Champions Tour.  A lot of top 15 to 22. Just haven’t played that great this year.”

Cashing in on ideal early conditions, Hensby began with three straight birdies before making his first bogey at the par-3 fourth.

He shrugged that off with birdies at five and six, turning in 6-under with further birdies at eight and nine.

Three bogeys and a birdie in his first four holes saw Hensby take a backward step to start the back nine, making a third birdie on a par 3 at 16 before walking off the 18th green disappointed with back-to-back bogeys.

Defeated by Miguel Angel Jimenez in a playoff at last week’s Kaulig Companies Champinship, Alker made par on every hole on the back nine to shoot 1-under, Greg Chalmers dropping two shots in his final two holes to post even par along with fellow Aussie Rod Pampling.

Round 1 Australasian scores
T1        Mark Hensby               -3
T10      Steven Alker (NZ)         -1
T18      Greg Chalmers             E
T18      Rod Pampling              E
T33      Stuart Appleby             +1
T33      Richard Green              +1
T33      Steve Allan                   +1
T33      Scott Hend                   +1
T52      Cameron Percy             +2
T77      Michael Campbell (NZ) +4
T118    Mathew Goggin           +7
T126    Richard Lee (NZ)           +8
T152    Brendan Jones             +13

Round 2 tee times AEST
11:42pm          Brendan Jones
11:52pm          Steve Allan
12:03am          Greg Chalmers
12:24am          Rod Pampling
12:24am*         Scott Hend
12:34am*         Steven Alker (NZ)
4:51am            Mathew Goggin
4:51am*           Richard Lee (NZ)
5:01am*           Stuart Appleby
5:12am            Michael Campbell (NZ)
5:33am*           Cameron Percy
5:43am            Richard Green
5:43am*           Mark Hensby