Either way, Scott Hend’s top-10 at last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth saved the Queenslander from the embarrassment of having to miss this week’s Scottish Championship at Fairmont St Andrews just 10 minutes from the Home of Golf.

His first top-10 finish anywhere since his victory at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia last March, Hend fired a 4-under 68 in the final round at Wentworth to climb into a tie for 10th, his birdie at the 72nd hole earning automatic entry into the Scottish Championship.

Finally content with the performance of his driver, Hend climbed 72 places in the Official World Golf Rankings and – provided he can cope with the freezing Scottish temperatures – can build on his current Race to Dubai position of 79th, up 37 on a week ago.

Other Australians taking part in the Scottish Championship are Wade Ormsby, Min Woo Lee, Jake McLeod and Zach Murray along with Kiwi legend Michael Campbell.

Going to put 2 “Headless With Hendy” on this week. 1st one is with @ryanfoxgolfer who is traveling back to NZ this week. Hope u enjoy some insight on golfers⛳?️‍♂️???? #golflife #luckyboy #BOOM #loveit @EuropeanTour @PGAofAustralia @asiantourgolf pic.twitter.com/bEQT2kZn7l

— Scott Hend (@hendygolf) October 12, 2020

Unable to be played in Korea due to COVID-19, the PGA TOUR’s CJ Cup has shifted to the ultra-exclusive Shadow Creek, a Tom Fazio design built without limitations, a personal playground for the rich and famous frequenting the Glitter Strip.

The site of The Match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2018, Shadow Creek will this week host three Aussies among the 78-man field, Cameron Smith, 2017 runner-up Marc Leishman and Jason Day. New Zealand’s Danny Lee – like Leishman, a runner-up to Justin Thomas in 2019 – will also tee it up.

Stephen Leaney, David McKenzie, Rod Pampling are confirmed starters at the Champions Tour’s Dominion Energy Charity Classic and Robyn Choi and Stephanie Na will fly the Aussie flag at the Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Florida on the secondary Symetra Tour.

Round 1 tee times (AEDT)

PGA TOUR
The CJ Cup at Shadow Creek
Shadow Creek, Las Vegas, Nevada
3.56am*              Cameron Smith, Corey Conners, Ian Poulter
4.07am Marc Leishman, Andrew Landry, Jordan Spieth
4.18am Jason Day, Brendon Todd, Louis Oosthuizen
4.51am Danny Lee, Robby Shelton, Jeongwoo Ham

Defending champion: Justin Thomas
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Cameron Smith
TV schedule: Live 8am-11.07am Friday; Live 8am-11.06am Saturday; Live 8am-11.10am Sunday; Live 8am-11am Monday on Fox Sports 503

European Tour
Scottish Championship
Fairmont St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
6.40pm Michael Campbell, Garrick Porteous, Alexander Levy
6.40pm*              Wade Ormsby, David Drysdale, Scott Jamieson
7.20pm Jake McLeod, Adrian Meronk, Dave Coupland
10.35pm              Scott Hend, Richie Ramsay, Paul Waring
10.45pm              Min Woo Lee, David Law, Nicolai Hojgaard
10.55pm              Zach Murray, Dale Whitnell, Lars Van Meijel

Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Wade Ormsby
TV schedule: Live 10.30pm-3.30am Thursday; Live 10.30pm-3.37am Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 11pm-3.30am Saturday; Live 10pm-2.30am Sunday on Fox Sports 505

Champions Tour
Dominion Energy Charity Classic
The Country Club of Virginia (James River Cse), Richmond, Virginia
Aussies in the field: Stephen Leaney, David McKenzie, Rod Pampling

Defending champion: Miguel Angel Jimenez
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Stephen Leaney
TV schedule: Live 6am-8am Saturday, Sunday; Live 5.30am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503

Symetra Tour
Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship
Mission Inn Resort and Club, Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida
11.55pm*            Stephanie Na, Isi Gabsa, Dewi Weber
12.50am*            Robyn Choi, Laetitia Beck, Amanda Doherty

Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Robyn Choi