Veteran tournament pro Mark Brown struggled early on in his opening round at the Fiji International underway at Natadola Bay.

The Tauranga-based pro dropped three shots in his opening nine holes played in blustery conditions along the stunning Coral Coast before recovering to sign for a three-over 75.

He was able to use all his experience to recover his round on the course announced by four-time golf Major winner Ernie Els as being 'in magnificent condition”.

Els signed for a par 72 on Thursday in difficult conditions with the wind making putting on the testing greens a demanding challenge.

Brown admits his start made the task that much more demanding.

'After that terrible start it was always going to be tough to do something after that. I think it was windier at seven o'clock this morning than when we finished. When we teed off it was howling and it seems to be a little bit softer this afternoon, which is unusual for round here.”

Brown grew up in Wellington and is renowned as a fine exponent of playing golf in windy conditions. That was another reason he was disappointed with his round.

'I like the course and I like the wind but despite finishing 11th last year I have not played that well around. I struggle a little bit reading the greens around here. It seems I can't quite get them online and today was a bit the same which is frustrating.

'The course is now a lot better designed around the course. There are a lot more options around the greens with pin placements. The changes are really good and have made a good course even better.”

Brown is one of three Tauranga golfers in the star-studded field along with Josh Geary and Kieran Muir.

Geary and Muir hit off at 12.10pm on Thursday.