After flying all the way from America to Australia no one wants to miss the cut, but after a devastating first round American Brandt Snedeker is in a precarious position.

Playing in the second group out this morning, Snedeker was confronted with strong winds, rain and a long bogey train.   

Feeling the full effects of the blustery conditions it took Snedeker 15 holes to card his first birdie, although by that stage he had reached a staggering 11 over par and it was too little too late.

The 34-year-old tournament favourite began his round with bogey, bogey, double bogey, double bogey and failed to consolidate from his bad start leaving his contingent of early morning fans in disbelief as he continued to battle through his round.

‘Just a horrible day, there’s nothing else to say.  I wish I could put a positive spin on it but I got off to a bad start, compounded my errors and then didn’t do anything really,’ Snedeker said.

 ‘The only thing I can think about today was,the conditions were tough. If you got it going a little bit sideways today you can make some big numbers, and I did.’

A cluster of International contenders dominated the first day’s play with Dylan Frittelli holding the early clubhouse lead with a round of 2-under par 70.

Fellow South African Zander Lombard was the eventual first round leader with a blistering round of 5-under par 67 which he described as the most ‘professional’ round of his career.

Round two gets underway at 6:00am tomorrow with Snedeker beginning his resurgence at 11:15amin hope of making the weekend.