Marcus Fraser leads a strong contingent of
Australia’s Asian Tour players at the Japan Tour co-sanctioned Panasonic Open
this week in Japan.

The event makes its debut on the schedule
with 60 players from each Tour eligible to play, Fraser earning his spot
courtesy of his win at the European Tour co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysia
Championship in February.

A win would see Fraser earn exemption to
the Japan Tour, an appealing prospect given the Victorian’s family is based in
Australia while he commutes to play in Europe.

Several of Australia’s top Professionals
now play Japan as their main tour because of the easier travel times and
several more have expressed interest in doing so in recent years.

Fraser is one of seven Australians to earn
their spot via the Asian Tour, Sam Brazel, Adam Groom, Unho Park, Kalem
Richardson, Scott Barr and Terry Pilkadaris also making the trip to Chiba.

They are joined by five Japan Tour regulars
in Adam Bland, Brendan Jones, Scott Strange, Brad Kennedy and Kurt Barnes,

Barnes comes into the event off a good
performance in his first event of the year last week where a top five will have
boosted his early season confidence.

Brendan Jones will be looking to hit back
from a poor final round last week which dropped him down the leaderboard at the
Token Homemate Cup while Adam Bland needs to turn his form around after two
missed cuts from two starts so far in 2016.