Malaysia's Gavin Green and Ben Leong teed off to a good start at the World Cup of Golf in Australia on Thursday.

They combined to fire nine-under 62s at the Metropolitan Golf Club to be just one shot off the lead, and in the same position as Belgium's Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry and Danish duo Thorbjorn Olesen and Soren Kjeldsen after the first round.

Meanwhile, Australia pair Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith, England duo Ian Poulter and Tyrrell Hatton and South Koreans An Byeong-hun and Kim Si-woo were part of a three-way tie for the World Cup of Golf lead.


Olesen and Kjeldsen, the defending champions, mixed 10 birdies with a bogey at Metropolitan Golf Club.

India's Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar and Ireland's Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne are at eight under.

Americans Matt Kuchar and Kyle Stanley have work to do after opening with a six-under 66.

There was a touching moment involving the United States and Australia teams, who greeted Briony Lyle – wife of late professional golfer Jarrod – during their rounds.