Cam Smith has LIV Golf Singapore leader Gooch in sight

Weary after being the centre of attention in LIV Golf's debut in Australia, Cameron Smith was happy to sidestep the limelight while moving into early contention for victory on the tour's latest stop in Singapore.

The British Open champion shot a first-round, six-under-par 65 at Sentosa Golf Club on Friday to sit just one off the lead held again by American Talor Gooch, who continued the searing form that earned him victory in Adelaide last week.

The Saudi-backed tour's debut in South Australia had proved exhausting work for its star attraction Smith, with all the off-course media demands he had to undertake while also finishing tied for third in the tournament itself.

But it didn't stop him producing a brilliant six-birdie round in Singapore in which he neither made a bogey nor missed a single fairway.

"There's definitely been a few less media requirements this week, so that was kind of nice," Smith admitted.

"We travelled on Monday from Australia and had a really easy day on Tuesday, and I think not only myself but the rest of the boys, as well, were pretty tired.

"We needed those couple of days just to kind of chill out and make up on some sleep."

As for hitting all the fairways in regulation, Smith, whose driving accuracy is not his strength, smiled: "I definitely can't remember the last time I hit 14 fairways."

But the 29-year-old is still having to chase his playing partner Gooch, whose brilliant form wasn't even checked by a two-and-a-half hour weather delay as he opened up a first-round lead in the same fashion that he dominated affairs in Adelaide.

But Smith is among a high-quality bunch of chasers, with eight major winners in the top-12. 

He's level with Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka on 65, with Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Louis Oosthuizen on 66, while Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel shot 67s.

Gooch, who opened with record-setting 10-under 62s in the first two rounds at Adelaide, smiled: "There's no pixie dust I've thrown on the clubs the last couple weeks.

"It's just the game comes and goes in waves, and hopefully we can continue to ride this wave for as long as we can.

"I have a buddy of mine that has been like a mentor to me since I was 10, and he always said: 'In golf, the penthouse and the outhouse are always right around the corner from each other.'

"You try not to get too high or too low when things are too good or aren't good."

Gooch, Smith and Mickelson appeared to inspire each other in a featured group at the start of the 54-hole tournament.

"It was really solid today," Smith said.

"Talor said everyone played well in the group, and I felt like we kept ourselves going there after the rain delay. Everyone was getting a little bit tired. It was a good day, all in all."

Among the Australian contingent, Marc Leishman is tied for 15th after his two-under 69, while Matt Jones and Jed Morgan are at one under.

With AP