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Uber driver Adam Stephens makes dream start at Australian Open

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Uber driver Adam Stephens has taken leave from his day job to grab the spotlight in the opening round of the Australian Open in Sydney.

Key points:

  • Adam Stephens turned to Uber driving to help pay off his mortgage
  • Stephens couldn't play on the Asian tour this year because he "had no money"
  • He shot a 3-under-par 69 in the opening round at The Lakes

As many of Australia's top golfers floundered in the wind and rain, Stephens at one point enjoyed the outright lead before settling for a fine 3-under-par 69 at The Lakes.

The world number 1,939 mixed five birdies with two bogeys to be tied for third when he finished his opening round, two shots adrift of clubhouse leader Byeong-hun An and one behind countryman Matt Jager.

"My other job is Uber driving, that's the reality of being a golfer over here," Stephens told Channel Seven.

"You've got to get a little part-time job unless you're a top five on the order-of-merit every year."

The Gold Coast-based Stephens said a share of the prizemoney on offer at the Australian Open would go a long way to helping him ease off on his Uber duties, which he had turned to "just to get [his] mortgage going and a bit of income in".

"I've just got a two-bedroom unit in Hope Island area," he said.

"I've got my missus there and I've just got a person renting the other room out recently, which is nice."

Adam Stephens watches a shot from the fairway on the third hole at the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old Stephens was chuffed with his brilliant start, after missing the cut at last week's New South Wales Open.

"I know the course fairly well. I've got a couple of mates who are members," Stephens said.

"My caddie was a member here. I just try and keep the bogeys down for the week, just like keep doing your birdies and you're going to be up there."

Stephens only picked up a golf club for the first time at 11, before quitting and then starting to take the sport seriously from 13.

"I went to Kelvin Grove up in Queensland when I was 17. That's like a golf school there," he said.

"Then I went to the other one called Hills International, where Jason Day went there as well."

But after toiling away in Asia for several years with little luck, Stephens gave up all but his Australasian Tour card last year.

"To be honest, I didn't go to Japan this year because I had no money," he said.

"That's the reality of it over here in Australia. I went there last year and I got to final three stage, [but it] almost bankrupt me."

Cameron Smith holds a golf club behind his head at the Australian Open at The Lakes.

Stephens's impressive opening upstaged the big-name morning starters, including pre-tournament favourite Cameron Smith, who struggled to a 2-over 74.

Smith's playing partner Brandt Snedeker also had a round to forget, with the former top-10 ranked American shooting a 1-over 73.

American drawcards Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley have afternoon tee times.

AAP

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ABC .net

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