Marc Leishman is predicting major-like scoring and conditions as he and Cameron Smith chase Australia's historic first Olympic golf medal in Japan.
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Leishman and Smith are seeded 17th and 11th in the 60-man field for the four-round, 72-hole, no-cut stroke-play event starting at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on Thursday.
The late withdrawals of world No.1 Jon Rahm and the sixth-ranked Bryson DeChambeau, the past two US Open champions who both tested positive to COVID-19, has boosted the medal chances of every player in the field.
The USA boasts the top four seeds in Justin Thomas, newly crowned British Open champion Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed, with Northern Ireland's four-time major winner Rory McIlroy seeded fifth.
Leishman has the honour of playing the first two rounds with home hero Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, as well as Canadian Corey Connors, with Smith to tee off alongside South African young gun Garrick Higgo and Norwegian star Viktor Hovland.
Leishman sat out the 2016 Rio Games because of the Zika virus but not even the coronavirus could stop him donning the green and gold to represent Australia this time around.
"Obviously very excited to be here. To represent your country is a huge honour and I know we're both very proud to be wearing this uniform," he said.
"The course looks great out there. I really like the golf course. It's in unbelievable condition and I'm sure it will only get more difficult as the week goes on."
The one-time major runner-up suspects the demanding, pot-filled layout will separate the good from the great.
"It seems like every bunker has been put there for a reason. They're all in play.
"If you are hitting your irons well I think there will be an opportunity for a lot of birdies. But on the other hand, if you're just a little bit off you're going to have some really difficult putts for birdies and tough two-putts.
"So I think there's going to be a fairly big spread in scores. If you play well, you can go low. If you're not playing, well it will get you, which I think is good.
"You should be rewarded for good play and punished for bad play so it's a great venue for the Olympic golf."
Fresh off her breakthrough major triumph at the Evian Championship on Sunday, Minjee Lee will join 2019 US PGA Championship winner and fellow West Australian Hannah Green in the women's Olympic golf event next week.
Australian Associated Press
