Thousands of golf fans swarmed the famous sandbelt course, lining the 10th hole 10 people deep to watch the world No.2 tee off in one of the first groups in round one at 7.05am (AEDT).
Playing with Australian stars Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, Rory McIlroy delivered for the masses with a birdie on the par-four first hole.
But the Northern Irishman had a mixed bag on his opening nine, adding three bogeys against his three birdies with the northerly wind proving challenging.
Scott nailed a superb approach at the par-five 14th and then drained a 12-foot putt for eagle, following up with a bogey and birdie on the 18th in front of the packed stands.
Lee was also at two under through nine, with leading Australian women's player Steph Kyriacou ensuring she had a front-row view with the world No.40 volunteering to carry the scoreboard for the star trio.
Entering the tournament on the back of seven missed cuts, Cameron Smith found some much-needed form.
The 2022 British Open champion, playing in the group behind the headline trio, was among the early leaders at three under with three birdies in four holes between 14 and 17.
Smith said before the tournament he had been hitting the ball well in practice, with the former world No.2 appearing to find his groove after a lean spell that has seen him go more than two years without an individual title win.
Other golfers among the early front-runners include Frenchman Ugo Coussard, Australian David Micheluzzi, Englishman Eddie Pepperell and Colombian Sebastian Munoz.
17°C