'Your eyes burn' - Golfer in mask as smoke shrouds Australian Open

New Zealand golfer Ryan Chisnall plays through thick haze from bushfires at the first hole on day one of the Australian Open in Sydney [Courtesy]

Players complained of stinging eyes with one forced to wear a face mask as toxic smoke from bushfires choking Sydney blighted the opening round of golf's prestigious Australian Open on Thursday.

Two young Asian amateurs upstaged a field packed with big names preparing for next week's Presidents Cup against the Tiger Woods-led US as the event was shrouded in haze from fires burning out of control throughout the state of New South Wales.