Cam Smith endures frustration in Saudi

Cameron Smith's magic touch with the putter deserted him after a dazzling start to his bid to win the money-spinning Saudi International tournament.

The Australian admitted to being left a little frustrated that, after firing four birdies in the first eight holes at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, the putts just stopped dropping for him.

He ended up parring the final 10 holes, missing chance after chance to set a really low score and threaten the eight-under par 62 shot by first round leader, Matteo Manassero.

Smith had instead to settle for a four under 66, which was still a good platform to launch his assault on the $900,000 first prize in the event that's had a host of the world's best golfers flocking to Saudi Arabia with the lure of huge appearance fees.

Yet the 28-year-old Queenslander, who's lying joint-13th after a day of low scoring, fancied it could have been even better.

"I hit the ball really good all day, felt I putted really good too but I just struggled holing the putts," he reflected following his afternoon round.

"I felt I was hitting good putts but they just weren't going in on the back nine there - it was quite frustrating.

"But, hopefully, some fresher greens in the morning and I might see some more putts go in."

Smith, who set the all-time low scoring record for the PGA Tour with his season-opening triumph in Hawaii, reckoned it was a "challenging" course.

Yet Manassero, the one-time wonder boy of European golf, made it look like mere child's play in his brilliant round.

The Italian, once the youngest winner in European Tour history whose career fell on hard times, rolled back the years to hold a two-shot lead over a five-strong group, including two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

Defendi