After more than a month off with a back injury Cameron Percy made an impressive comeback to the game at the Puerto Rico Open playing some solid golf as he continues his bid to regain full PGA TOUR status.

Percy withdrew after just nine holes of his opening round of the Honda Classic in February but returned to competition this week after being eligible for a start at the opposite field Puerto Rico event.

The South Australian, who has only limited status on the TOUR this season, opened with a 3-under 69 and added scores of 71-67-68 to be 13-under for the week and T24.

That was easily good enough for top Australian honours and keeps alive his hopes of earning full status for 2018 as he climbs to 115^th in the FedEx Cup standings.

John Senden was next best of the six Australians who teed up for the week, the Queenslander recovering from a pedestrian opening round of 72 with scores of 69-67-70 to get to 10-under for the week.

That was good for a share of 37^th position but did little for his long term prospects as he dropped to 170^th on the FedEx Cup standings.

It’s been tough going for Senden this season who missed four straight cuts prior to this week so will take some confidence from having qualified for the weekend.

PGA TOUR rookie Brett Drewitt was the last of the Australians to make the cut though failed to break 70 in any round on his way to a 5-under total and T62 finish.

It was Drewitt’s fourth made cut in eight starts for the season but he needs to make more of his opportunities if he is to keep his card for 2018.

He is presently 175^th on the FedEx Cup standings but needs to get into the top 125 by season’s end to assure playing rights next year.

Matt Jones, Stuart Appleby and Steven Bowditch all missed the cut, Jones particularly disappointed after missing by just one.

The former Australian Open winner is playing on limited status in 2017 and made a brave run to get to the weekend with birdies at his last two holes Friday but came up just short.