Near misses fuel Leishman at Torrey Pines

Marc Leishman has challenged himself to finally finish the job at Torrey Pines after a series of near misses.

The in-form Australian's love affair with the famed seaside course near San Diego includes two runner-ups and another top 10 from nine previous starts.

Last year, Leishman held a share of the lead during the final round before fading away on the back nine.

"It's time for me to step up on this course because I've had a few good finishes here and hopefully that's this year," Leishman told AAP.

"I had a really good chance here last year and I didn't finish it off the way I wanted to on the back nine, but the things that didn't work I feel I've fixed."

Leishman arrives at Torrey Pines, which hosted the 2008 US Open won by Tiger Woods, with a victory, a runner-up and two other top-10 finishes from his past seven starts worldwide.

"My confidence is high and I feel like I've got the game to win around here, but you've still got to go out and do it," said Leishman.

"It's a tough course but I enjoy it probably more than any other on tour."

Also in good form is fellow Australian Cameron Smith, who has backed up his sudden-death victory at the Australian PGA Championship in December with two top-20 results during the PGA Tour's Hawaii swing.

"I like the course, I'm swinging it really well at the moment and I think I can give it a really good run," said Smith.

A large Australian contingent also includes recent Australian Open winner Cam Davis, Jason Day, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Jones, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling and Cameron Percy.

Headlining the event is 14-time major winner Tiger Woods in his first PGA Tour event in a year, as well as world No.2 Jon Rahm and England veteran Justin Rose.