Craig Parry has left himself with an uphill battle after falling seven strokes from the first round lead at the US PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championship.

Parry was disgusted after a double bogey at the 17th hole on his way to a mediocre two-under-par 71 in ideal conditions on Maui's Kapalua course.

"I should have scored a lot better. Two under is pretty ordinary. That's why I'm a little peeved," said Parry, the only Australian in an event restricted to winners on the US Tour the previous year.

He was equal 23rd, while South African Ernie Els and American Jim Furyk led at nine-under 64 on a day when the field averaged 69.4 strokes, the lowest average score since the event moved to Kapalua in 1999.

The main cause of Parry's angst was a poor tee shot at the par-four 17th, where he carved his ball so far right that he missed a fairway more than 100 metres wide and was forced to take a penalty stroke from an unplayable lie in the jungle-like vegetation.

"It was just poor concentration," he said. His mood would have been even more sour had he not birdied the 603-metre par-five 18th, where he nearly got home in two before sinking a three-metre putt.

Co-leader Els, meanwhile, plundered two eagles, seven birdies and a double bogey in a spectacular performance.

"I don't think I've ever seen it this calm," said the British Open champion. "I hit it nicely and putted nicely. What more can I say?"

Els, who lost a play-off to Tiger Woods here three years ago, doesn't have to worry about his nemesis this year, because Woods is cooling his heels while recovering from recent knee surgery.

Els confirmed a bizarre report that an intruder was arrested after being found asleep in his bed at his South African home on New Year's Eve.

However, he was reluctant to comment on the matter, clearly not wanting it to become an even bigger story than it already is.

"It wasn't a nice episode. I don't want to say any more," he said.

According to the Cape Times, Els arrived home with his family at 4.45am on New Year's Day to find a 25-year-old man asleep in his bed.

Police arrested the man and charged him with housebreaking and trespassing.

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