Adam Scott has assured Australian golf fans that the smallest US Open contingent from Down Under in 16 years is nothing to worry about.
Just five Australians will tee it up at Erin Hills in Wisconsin this week - the lowest number since three contested the 2001 event ( Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and Peter Lonard).
While world No.12 Scott, No.3 Jason Day and No.35 Marc Leishman were eligible courtesy of their rankings position, only Nick Flanagan and Wade Ormsby joined them through qualifying events.
But 2013 Masters champion Scott points to a production line of classy young Australian golfers as the reason why the small representation at Wisconsin's Erin Hills this week is not a real cause for concern.
Scott was glowing in his endorsement of the next crop, having played practice rounds with US PGA Tour rookies Brett Coletta and Curtis Luck, both 20, as well as 19-year-old Ryan Ruffels, this year.
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"I don't think you should read into that (number). Just look at Australian golf throughout history; it's always been strong. There are a lot of Aussies playing around the world and everything is cyclical," Scott told AAP.
"Look at the kids coming through - you've got Ryan, Brett and Curtis ... we could have 12 Aussies next year (at the US Open) and we'll be raving."
Future promise aside, the low numbers at the US Open does highlight a current dearth of Australians high in the world rankings.
Queensland youngster Cameron Smith's breakthrough US tour victory at the Zurich Classic team event in New Orleans in April didn't carry world ranking points and the world No.142 needed to break the top-60 by June 11 to be eligible.
Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, is a notable absentee after his 10-year exemption ran out, however he has fallen to 223rd in the rankings.
Apart from Scott, Day and Leishman, the only Australian in the world's top 100 is veteran Scott Hend at No.93, with Aaron Baddeley next best at 134.
