Robert Allenby was underwhelmed with his opening round at the Wachovia Championship.

A two-under-par 70 was nothing to be ashamed of, but Allenby thought he should have gone much lower in ideal morning conditions at Quail Hollow.

"It could have been a lot better, that's for sure," said the Victorian, who trailed Irish leader Padraig Harrington by four shots with half the field back in the clubhouse.

"I know I could have shot three or four shots better, without even thinking about it.

"I had a few chances I should have made but didn't."

Allenby felt better about the course than his score, describing it as the best track on the US PGA Tour, and one of the best in the world.

Allenby and Mathew Goggin were best of the early Australian starters, but it was pretty slim pickings for the rest.

US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy bogeyed his final hole for even-par 72, the same score as John Senden, while Peter Lonard and Adam Scott carded 73.

Lonard was on the leaderboard early, three-under after eight holes, but he came home in an ambulance, dropping four shots in the final three holes.

Scott, on the other hand, started poorly, but an eagle at the par-five seventh, his 16th hole, helped limit the damage in his first round since the Masters.

"There wasn't much to be pleased about," said Scott, the world No.4.

"It was a pretty dismal performance, no fairways, no greens, putted badly.

"My head wasn't in the game. Funny day, hit no fairways, hit no greens, putted badly.

"I think it was one of those get-back-into-it rounds."

He at least fared better than Stuart Appleby (75), Stephen Leaney (75), Nick O'Hern (75) and Gavin Coles (76).

Leader Harrington was hot on the greens, taking just 24 putts in a six-under 66, good for a one-shot clubhouse lead over American Jason Bohn.

"I ended up using a new putter shaft this week, something quite revolutionary, and it worked wonders," Harrington explained.

"I think there will be a few more pros looking to get this shaft.

"It's got two lead weights right at the top, just underneath the grip, and it changes the dynamics of the putter substantially. It's so good it should be banned."

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