Matt Griffin and Aaron Townsend join New Zealand’s David Smail as the only three Australasians to tee up in this week’s Fukushima Open in Japan.

Griffin, who finished T13 at the event last year, will be keen to turn around some indifferent form in 2016 where he has posted just one top-10 in nine starts.

However, he has made all but one cut for the year, which suggests his game is close and with some good memories from his 2015 performance this could be a breakthrough week.

Also keen to produce some good golf is Aaron Townsend who has struggled to find his feet since graduating from the 2015 Qualifying School.

The New South Welshman has played seven events but made just three cuts, his best result T23 at his first event of the season.

While Griffin and Townsend have been at less than their best the veteran, David Smail, comes into the event off his best finish in more than a year.

A T7 at last month’s Sega Sammy Cup in just his third tournament of 2016 was an encouraging performance and having finished T25 at this tournament last year he has shown a liking for the course.