Like Augusta, the Copperhead course – home to this week's Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour – places a premium on accurate, sharp iron play, convincing Day to add the event to his pre-Masters schedule.

Although Day boasts a powerful driver and world-class short game, the former World No.1 has admitted his approach play needs improvement.

Last season, the Queenslander ranked a lowly 142nd on the PGA Tour for strokes gained in approach play – despite winning twice.

However, the 31-year-old Day's irons have improved and helped his tie for eighth at last week's elite Players Championship.

He welcomed another examination at the Valspar, which is the second of three straight PGA Tour events for Day.

"It is definitely a different test of golf – you don't need as much power as you do at other PGA Tour courses," Day told AAP.

RIGHT: Akshay Bhatia, the top-ranked junior in the US, will make his PGA Tour debut at the Valspar Championship. PHOTO: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images.

"The course asks a lot about how accurate you are with regards to your tee shots. You have to hit landing areas in the fairway and, from there, really solid irons.

"What I need to see are good drives on the holes I can hit driver, a lot of nice 3-woods off the tee and iron play similar to what I saw from myself at the Players, but with better proximity to the hole."

Joining Day at the Valspar are fellow Australians John Senden, the 2014 champion, as well as Matt Jones, Cameron Davis and Rod Pampling.

Although big guns such as World No.1 Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm headline the field, plenty of eyes will be on 17-year-old Akshay Bhatia.

Bhatia, from North Carolina, is the top-ranked junior in the US and is making his PGA Tour debut.

The 7,340-yard, par-71 Copperhead course has seen a variety of winners due to its narrow fairways and strategic layout, which includes double dog-legs on two of the par-5s.

- Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press