With most of the European Tour’s big guns in America ahead of next week’s US Open 10 Australasians get their chance to shine at the innovative Shot Clock Masters in Austria.

The experimental tournament is sure to throw up some controversy as each group is followed and timed by officials for all 72 holes but that won’t dampen the enthusiasm of several Australasians looking to advance their careers.

Wade Ormsby, Marcus Fraser, Jason Norris, Adam Bland, Josh Geary and Challenge Tour winner Dimi Papadatos are entered for the inaugural event.

Also teeing up are Nick Cullen, Jack Munro, Matt Millar and Richard Green.

Ormsby, Fraser and Norris are secure in their status courtesy of tournament victories but for the rest the week represents a big opportunity.

Papadatos is well on his way to European Tour membership via the Challenge Tour money list but could fast track proceedings with a good showing this week.

His form has been decent since winning in Portugal last month and a final round 66 last week will see him head to the first tee with some confidence.

The unknown in Austria will be the impact of the shot clock with nobody in the field having played under such constant time pressure over 72 holes.

Whether the format favours the laid-back attitude of the likes of Marcus Fraser, Jason Norris and Matt Millar over the more intense demeanour of a player such as Nick Cullen is an unknown though it could easily work both ways.

Cullen has been on the fringes of gaining full access to the European Tour for the best part of four years and an unorthodox event such as this could well play into his favour.

He has shown he has all the tools required to compete at the top level and just needs that final piece of the puzzle to fall into place to give him regular playing opportunities.