ADAM SCOTT of Australia plays at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Picture: Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The cream is rising on a day of vastly improved conditions at the Australian Open in Sydney.

Big guns Adam Scott, Paul Casey and Louis Oosthuizen are among the big movers early after the hazardous haze that engulfed The Australian Golf Club on Thursday afternoon cleared significantly.

Needing a low round to make the cut after his first-round shocker, Scott picked up three shots on his front nine on Friday morning to climb to one over par for the championship.

Scott was seven strokes adrift of overnight leaders Takumi Kanaya and Chun-An Yu, having started 10 back following his four-over 75 to start the Open.

"I can get off to a good start on the back nine and hopefully, by the end of the day, be in the red figures and start my climb," Scott said pre-round.

"At least now I know where (the ball) is going and I can now chip away at this thing."

Casey, the world No.14 and highest-ranked player in the field, was one off the pace after negotiating the front nine in two under to be five under for the tournament.

American Cameron Tringale and David Micheluzzi were others to enjoy the easier going on Friday.

Micheluzzi sizzled through the front nine in five under to join the surprise two amateur leaders, with Tringale also at six under halfway through his round.

The afternoon starters may still face another day of playing through pollution, though, after the state government issued a poor air quality alert for Sydney.

England's Paul Casey, among the tournament favourites, has picked up a shot through five holes to move to four under.

Veteran Rod Pampling, young amateur Lukas Michel and Sydney local Scott Arnold were also on the prowl, joining former champion Matt Jones, Dimi Papadatos and Daniel Nisbet on four under.

Jones, Papadatos and Nisbet all afternoon tee times.