Only three golfers broke par as brutal playing conditions ruined the chance of decent scores in the first round of the Australian Masters at Melbourne.

Australians Paul Gow, Chris Gaunt and Shane Tait were the only ones to get into the red as blustery 20-knot winds combined with high temperatures made for sapping conditions.

Gow fired a two-under 71, one ahead of Gaunt and Tait, as Sergio Garcia and Greg Norman were brought to their knees by the conditions.

Teenage Spaniard Garcia spluttered with a five-over 78, while Norman - who has won the event six times - fared little better, putting miserably for a three-over 76.

After his round, Norman - on his 45th birthday - described the conditions "the worst anywhere in the world".

Former British Open and US PGA champion John Daly was another to be left red-faced - he trooped off with a nine-over 82 after a round of seven bogeys and a double bogey.

Gow, who led last year's Australian Open in Adelaide at the halfway stage, had an unblemished outward nine of two under and got it to four under with an eagle three at the 443-metre 10th.