In golf terms, Australia is like a second home for Chinese Taipei's CT Pan.
It was here that he played his last significant international amateur event – the 2014 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship – and it was also here he began his professional career in 2015.
His former swing coach was Australian and his current trainer lives on the Gold Coast.
“The Australian Open has been really important to my golf career,” he said.
“My first three months as a pro I came down and played here in the Masters and the Australian Open.
“I love the golf here…Australia has done a really good job promoting golf.”
While playing the PGA TOUR makes scheduling to play the Emirates Australian Open difficult Pan is pleased to be back in 2019, especially given the circumstances of his attendance.
The 28-year-old was an automatic qualifier for Ernie Els’ Presidents Cup International team and has multiple motivations this week at The Australian Golf Club.
“It’s a great trophy and it would be an honour to have my name on it of course,” he said.
“But there are Open spots to play for as well and that’s a big incentive. I’m not in The Open field for 2020 yet so that is something important to play for.
“And then this week is also important to get ready for next week so there is a lot to play for.”
Pan is one of six rookies who will line up for the Internationals at Royal Melbourne but says that might work to the team’s advantage.
“Obviously we are young,” he said, “but I want to say we are fearless as well because nowadays the PGA TOUR is no piece of cake.
“You see these young guys…they are all on the PGA TOUR so they have proved to themselves that they can beat anyone on the PGA TOUR. They’ve seen those American players every day
“We are fearless, we are…we have a great opportunity. Plus we have a home advantage.
“What we are looking at is our future and right now we are looking at next week especially.”
Pan is playing the first two rounds in the company of former winners Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Jones.