The Warrnambool-raised golfer is hoping to join famous company and secure his maiden major triumph at the USPGA Championship this week.

Leishman, who won the Farmers Insurance Open in January, has missed two of four cuts since the PGA Tour resumed from a coronavirus-enforced hiatus in June.

But a number of factors - including a preference for the USPGA Championship's TPC Harding Park course - have the 36-year-old confident of success.

"If I can get into contention, I definitely think I can take that next step and win a big one," Leishman told The Standard.

"It's a difficult course. It's long and you have to hit a lot of long irons. It's at sea level as well, which means the ball falls shorter and is more predictable.

"Last week in Memphis (at the St. Jude Invitational) I was hitting my seven iron over 200 metres. This week, it'll go about 170.

"Those little things can make a difference. I like when golf courses reward good shots and punish bad ones and this course will certainly do that.

"One of the guys (in practise) lost something like four balls in six inches of rough. There's going to be a lot of lost balls. It's really going to reward playing well."

Leishman said his game was improving on the back of work via FaceTime with Melbourne-based coach Denis McDade.

The five-time PGA Tour winner is among six Australians in the USPGA Championship field.

"My game is coming around," he said.

"It's not exactly where I'd like it to be but the good stuff is really good. It's just that there's still a bit of rusty golf in there which is not ideal.

"I'm hoping this is the week I can put it all together and hopefully have a big one. My expectations aren't super high but I do love the course and it's one I've played well at before."

Leishman admitted he found playing without crowds to be difficult.

"I love playing in majors. That's what you do all your practise for, to get yourself into situations with some pressure and those which make you uncomfortable," he said.

"I love playing in front of big crowds. Unfortunately there aren't going to be any this week, but knowing it's a major, hopefully that'll be a bit of a substitute and get me focused to play some good golf.

"It's been tough (without crowds). I knew it would be. It's not so much on the Thursday and Friday of tournaments, it's the Saturday and Sunday where you can use a bit of external energy."

Leishman tees off at 7.20am in Australian Eastern Standard Time on Friday.

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