Cameron Smith gave his Aussie teammate Marc Leishman a World Cup uppercut after four holes at Metropolitan on Thursday.
The younger member of the home team had a birdie and an eagle to his credit in the best ball affair and urged his older playing partner to give a little bit for his country.
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It was a sarcastic but stirring call to arms from the Queenslander, and Leishman responded by stiffing his shot close on the par-three sixth for his opening birdie.
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By the time Smith added another to his total after a stunning second shot on the 18th Team Australia had stormed to the top of the leader board.
There’s a three-way tie at the top, with England and Korea equalling the Aussie team’s round of 10-under 62 as the feared fierce weather failed to show-up and low scores prevailed.
Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman celebrate another birdie.
But everyone knows catch-up is at its hardest in the alternate shot format they face on Friday, and Smith, content with his growing chemistry with Leishman, said their opening gambit was the perfect way to avoid having to chase anyone down.
“We kept chatting all day and I gave ‘Leish’ a bit of an uppercut under the ribs after 4. I said, ‘you know, you can turn up any time’,” Smith joked.
“We both played really well all day and we just got to keep being smart.
“Those guys that are a little bit behind will have to play really good (Friday) and then it’s just not the format you want to be catching up in, you don’t want to force anything.
“We’re in a good spot to just play smart into the centres and give ourselves some good looks.”
Already pre-tournament favourites, the Aussies firmed further in betting, but face an Ashes-style battle against Team England,with the two countries looking to put a gap on the chasers.
England’s Ian Poulter, doing most of the talking for his grumpy playing partner Tyrrell Hatton who found the back nine tough going, knew exactly where his team sat.
“This tournament’s won and lost on Friday and Sunday. Foursomes is the day where you can take yourself out of the tournament pretty quickly,” he said.
“It’s just going to be an interesting day.”
Strategy looms as key, who hits off which tees, but Poulter wasn’t getting bogged down in too much thinking, knowing a “cuddle” for Hatton was just as important.
“The caddies have worked it out, we haven’t worked it out,” he said.
“We’re just going to do as we’re told. Give us a number, we’re going to go play golf.”
Leishman was loving the “vibe” he had going with Smith, even asking for a Thursday dinner-date when he found out his teammate had no plans.
And when the whips start cracking he hopes that friendly feel can help get them over the line.
“If we can stay upbeat,” Leishman said.
“I think that’s going to go a long way for us.”
During Thursday’s opening round, golf was put to one side when Briony Lyle, wife of late professional golfer Jarrod, greeted players on the seventh tee.
The Aussie pair, along with US duo Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley, stopped for a hug with Mrs Lyle as each man paid their respect to the lovable Aussie golfer, who earlier this year lost his long battle with cancer.
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