Karrie Webb believes it's not just the foreign players who might feel a little queasy approaching the quick Royal Melbourne greens this week.
The putting surfaces are intimidating for anyone, she said, other than locals who are accustomed to them.
''It is more the slope and allowing enough break but still hitting positive putts,'' the Australian No.1 said.
''The key, if you've got the guts to do it, is to hit putts that are going to be three or four feet [one metre] past if they miss. If you don't putt with a little aggression, I don't think you are going to make many.''
Webb, 36, is searching for a fifth Australian Open title this week and while the retirement questions still come, she is happy with her aim of touring up to the 2016 Olympic Games. She is in possibly the best shape of her career, and has tweaked her swing with coach Ian Triggs.
''If retirement was on the cards, I would not have made these swing changes or worked as hard as I did in the off season,'' she said. ''It is there. But as I have said for the past few years, it is closer to the end of my career than the beginning.
''I really believe I still have some great golf to play. If I can achieve these swing changes, I believe that is a chance ... You never say never.
''I visited [retired professional] Rachel Hetherington on the Gold Coast in January. She told me she would never remarry, would never have children and never teach golf. She has married Greg Ritchie, just had a baby girl and they've just bought a driving range - I thought I'd better be careful about saying what I would never do.''
World No.4 Cristie Kerr was another to give a tick to the course.
''What a spectacular golf course. It is one of the best I've ever seen. The green complexes are so severe and so fast. You really have to know what you are doing out there. Especially for the first week of the year. They really have us by the hair,'' she said.
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