Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling hopes that Tiger Woods' appearance in Melbourne next week leads to a long-term revival of the Australian tournament golf scene.

Pampling thinks that if world No.1 Woods' visit to the Masters at Kingston Heath is as successful as the tickets sellout suggests, it may encourage others to follow suit and make a similar effort to attract the game's best players.

"If Melbourne is successful, maybe Sydney will say let's do the same thing," said Pampling on Tuesday.

"Maybe a tournament will say let's get Phil Mickelson down to bolster our field.

"Obviously we've been on a bit of a downer since (Greg) Norman cut back, but we've also got Vijay Singh coming down for the PGA (at Coolum)."

Of course, none of these international stars are playing without being well compensated - in Woods' case to the tune of $US3 million ($A3.31 million).

Pampling is resigned to being an anonymous defending champion next week, swept under the media carpet by the Woods juggernaut.

"I told Tiger that it's been 10 years since I've won at home. I was finally going to get recognised and now I've got no chance," joked Pampling.

He cautioned however that Woods would have to adapt his game to have a chance at Kingston Heath.

"It's not like a typical golf course he's used to playing," said Pampling.

"It will have to be a restrained Tiger. If he just cracks driver, he'll be in trouble."

Pampling also joked that Robert Allenby's late withdrawal meant there would be one less controversial guy to distract media attention from Woods.

Pampling was speaking on a chilly morning at Sheshan Golf Club ahead of Thursday's opening round at the World Golf Championships' HSBC Champions tournament.

Woods heads a star-studded field that also includes world No.2 Mickelson, defending champion Sergio Garcia and the likes of Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Ryo Ishikawa.

Pampling is part of a six-man Australian contingent with Allenby, Geoff Ogilvy, Nathan Green, Greg Chalmers and Scott Strange.

Pampling also expressed surprise at the first announced positive drug test on the US PGA Tour since it starting testing in mid-2008.

The tour has suspended journeyman American Doug Barron for one year after he tested positive for an un-named performance-enhancing substance.

Barron is not noted for being a particularly fine physical specimen and Pampling described the revelation as bizarre, while at the same time admitting it was difficult to say too much without knowing exactly what he tested for.

"You hope he's not a scapegoat just to say we've got somebody."

Under its policy, the tour announces only when a player tests positive and the length of suspension. It does not say what drug was used.