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Lucas Herbert enjoyed himself as he earned a share of the lead after day one of the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.

Lucas Herbert's refined, happy-go-lucky approach is working wonders on the Gold Coast as the emerging talent learns how to best combine work and play.

The Victorian shares the overnight lead with Brett Rankin after his five-under 67 in the first round of the Australian PGA Championship on Thursday.

Herbert went birdie-birdie-eagle to begin his round in still conditions, before throwing in three bogeys in an eventful first nine holes.

He added four more birdies to be faultless after the turn and take advantage of the conditions before Royal Pines' traditional breeze picked up later in the day.

His efforts couldn't be topped in the afternoon, with Min Woo Lee and Wade Ormsby among five men one shot back, and Adam Scott lurking at two-under.

Herbert, usually one to plot a precise path through every round, said he was hardly aware of his score.

"I usually set little targets numbers-wise, but I really didn't today, just kind of just let everything go and just enjoyed being out there," he said.

"That was consuming my mind rather than the score."

It's a refreshing approach for a talent who admitted a season in Europe had taken its toll and thoughts of walking away altogether had crept in.

A barnstorming final nine holes earned him a top-15 finish at the France Open to secure full European playing rights next season.

Importantly, it allowed the 24-year-old to return home early.

A hand ligament injury has healed well after impacting his Australian Open tilt, in what has been another educational year on the tour.

"You can't just be golf, golf, golf 24-7; you've actually got to concentrate when you need to and you've got to switch off when you need to," Herbert said.

"That's probably the big takeaway for me.

"So I'll probably go shopping this afternoon or we'll go go-karting or something.

"It just keeps everything fresh, helps you enjoy the golf."