Both have favourable draws, playing the Beach layout at 13th Beach in the morning and having the benefit of tackling the more expansive Creek course in the afternoon of the first two rounds.

Murray knows only too well how the draw and wind can impact on making the cut.

He battled the elements last year at Barwon Heads in his first outing against the pros and failed to make the weekend.

Murray played a practice round on Monday and a pro-am on Tuesday, but knocked back another pro-am spot yesterday in favour of a practice round in the afternoon.

“The Beach course is shorter but a lot tighter and if the wind is blowing the par threes can really eat you up,” he said.

“The way it is shaping I’m playing the Creek course, which is longer but has a little more room in the afternoon, and the Beach on Friday morning.

“I think Frazer is the opposite — on the Beach early Thursday and the Creek Friday afternoon.

“I think my last six tournaments, including the Australian Open, I’ve had the worst of the conditions and you simply have to knuckle down and work your way through it.

“My game feels pretty good at the moment and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Today Murray will tee off just 10 minutes after Yarrawonga pro golfer Breanna Elliott, who has returned from the US where she plays on the second tier Symmetra Tour.

The Victorian Open is unique in that men and women compete at the same time.

“It’s great that Frazer is down here too, some familiar faces and he is staying just across the road,” he said.

“And I’ll have Albury pennant captain Lachie Stewart on the bag for me.

“It is always a good week with him, Lachie keeps me in good spirits no matter what is happening.

“I’m in a good group in the opening rounds — paired with Matthew Giles, who won here in 2013, and Scott Arnold, who won the year before that.”