Open tilt good Cup prep: Leishman, Ogilvy December 05, 2019 by AAP / Evin Priest

SYDNEY, AAP - Marc Leishman is confident that playing the Australian Open is ideal preparation for International team members of the Presidents Cup despite the move being called in to question.

Six members of the 12-man International side, who will face a Tiger Woods-led American team next week, have teed it up at The Australian GC in Sydney.

Captain Ernie Els and his assistants Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Weir and KJ Choi are the in Open field, too.

But Australian golf great Ian Baker-Finch has suggested the Internationals would be just as well served if they spent this week playing Cup host Royal Melbourne instead.

The Australian GC is an American-style course and vastly different from the links-style conditions of a firm, fast Royal Melbourne.

Former British Open winner-turned commentator Baker Finch told reporters he was "hoping more of them would come to play the Sandbelt early rather than the Australian Open".

However, the backlash would be significant if stars like Leishman or Adam Scott were to skip the Open in favour of practising in Melbourne.

Baker-Finch acknowledged this week's star-studded Open field was good for the event and for Australian golf, but asked whether the Internationals were making use of their home advantage.

World No.27 Leishman said there was merit in Baker-Finch's belief.

But given Leishman hasn't played a tournament in five weeks, the Victorian wanted to be tested under the gun.

"I think any time you can play the (Melbourne) Sandbelt is good preparation because it's such different style of golf," Leishman told AAP after a solid 69 to sit at two-under-par.

"The greens at The Australian are firm, but completely different level to Royal Melbourne.

"I played there on Monday (before coming to Sydney) and it's bouncing hard; some of the shots I hit today that finished close to the hole would have been 40 feet away at Royal Melbourne. It's that different.

"(Playing all week in Melbourne) would have been great preparation but I like to get into the tournament mode; hit shots under the pump.

"There's no right or wrong way to (prepare); I guess it's different strokes for different folks."

Former US Open winner Ogilvy, who carded a one-over 72 on Thursday, agreed that preparation was a matter of preference.

"It depends who you are; some guys can't focus unless there is a tournament on," Ogilvy said.

"Those are the players who like to face must-make six-foot putts, have tough up-and-downs (for par) and must-hit fairways to prepare for a big event.

"They would go down there and have a bit of fun but not get that much out of it.

"Other guys like, Tiger and Scotty (Adam Scott), have been masters at preparing away from a tournament.

"I don't think there's a definitive answer."