Predictions this week’s Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast will be a feast of low-scoring may be wide of the mark, according to leading contender Marc Leishman.

The 30-year-old says he’s been surprised by his initial impression of the layout at Royal Pines for this week’s tournament, claiming it’s tougher than many may think.

The clean, long-hitting of Masters champion Adam Scott have some thinking the course record of 63 could come under threat this weekend.

But Leishman, who will join world no.43 Rickie Fowler in his threesome for the opening round on Thursday, says there are traps out there for any of the field who take the course too easy.

“There’s plenty of rough out there to catch you if your drives go a bit astray,” he said.

“It’s a lot longer than what I remember it.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of talk of a really low winning score but I’m guessing that it’s probably not going to be as low as everyone thinks.”

While organisers are asking fans to don green on Friday in honour of Scott’s Masters win on Friday, the hometown boy will make his first public appearance at the course on Wednesday.

Scott is set to tee off in a Pro-Am from 7am AEST (0800 AEDT) before being given the keys to the city by Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate at the end of his round.