AMERICAN Tom Watson said he putted like "seven day old fish" as he struggled to a first round 77 in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale yesterday.

Australian professionals Jeff Wagner, Richard Green and Scott Laycock shared the lead on 67, but Watson was left gasping.

"It was just embarrassing for men out there today, it was atrocious," the five time British Open champion said.

Watson has had putting problems for years and is seeking his first victory since 1987.

His latest ploy was trying to copy the flowing putting stroke of countryman John Daly observed during the weekend's Australian Skins tournament, but nothing worked yesterday.

Watson's four over par round left him 10 shots from the lead going into the second round. Daly also had a 77.

He had 37 putts and "when you do that you're not going to score very well.

"I tried to fight it but the putter was not cooperating today," he said. "But who knows, I might come out tomorrow morning and have a feel or a touch for the greens."

Like the troubled former British Open winner Ian Baker Finch, who can't find the fairway off the tee, Watson has been deluged with well meaning suggestions.

"Close your eyes, putt lefthanded, use an 18 inch putter, use a long putter, all sorts of things," he said.

He even said putting at night gave him a certain feel for the shot. But he is adamant a solution lies out there somewhere.

"I'll find it some way, I'm not going to give in," Watson said.

"Believe it or not I love this game and the more you play the more you know you're going to have trouble with certain parts of it."

He can still produce the tee to green shots that won him eight majors and yet he compares himself to players just taking up the game.

"That's why people get attached to the game," he said. "Beginners might top it or whiff it but then they'll get that one ball in the air and say `God, did I do that'," he said.