MARC Leishman is hoping his formative years spent on windy coastal courses will give him an edge in golf's final major of the year, the 92nd PGA Championship, which begins late tonight (AEST).
The Warrnambool professional yesterday (AEST) had his first look at the demanding Whistling Straits layout which hugs the Lake Michigan coastline in Wisconsin.
Leishman, who had an 18-hole familiarisation round at Whistling Straits with his Warrnambool caddie Matt Kelly, is upbeat about his form and chances of making a mark in the famous event.
The 26-year-old, playing just the fourth major of his career, said he was feeling more comfortable than at the US Masters, US Open and British Open
"It's got a different feel (to the other majors)," he said.
"It feels more like a regular tournament. I'm not feeling any pressure this week to be honest.
"There is no point worrying about it. I've played a few of the majors now and I'm starting to get the hang of things.
"You never stop learning but I definitely feel a lot more confident this week than any of the majors."
Leishman had last week off in a bid to be fresh for the daunting challenges ahead around the undulating 6864-metre course.
"It is really exposed, it is a lot like a soft links course," Leishman said.
"It's not fast, the fairways aren't hard, you don't get any run. If the wind gets up, it will definitely help me."
Leishman, coming off his best driving performance of his career at the Greenbrier Classic, where he finished tied for 16th a fortnight ago, said accuracy would be a key this week.
"It is fairly tight off the tee," he said.
"I will need to hit it pretty well. It is going to be a ball-striker's course rather than a putter's course.
"Obviously you still have to sink the putts but there is going to be more emphasis on ball-striking than putting because it is such a demanding course from tee to green.
"It's really long and that will help me too."
Leishman said yesterday's conditions were "dead calm".
"It gets eerie. It was so quiet out there because there was no wind.
"It's weird, it's different to anything I have ever played that close to the water because there is not that wind."
Leishman estimated the course contained "1000 bunkers" and lots of trouble.
He predicted he would be taking his three-wood off the tee a lot in a bid to find the fairway.
"The rough is brutal, it is really long.
"If you drive into the rough it is going to be a long week...it won't be a long week, it will be a long two days because you won't make the weekend.
"It's going to be pretty tough, even when it is calm, it is tough.
"If the wind gets up I would think even-par would be an awesome score...if you can shoot four rounds of even par you will do pretty well."
Leishman said the week off had not affected his ball-striking, which had been impressive at the Greenbrier Classic.
"The signs are there," he said.
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