In-form Australian Marc Leishman is bracing for fan hysteria at this week's World Golf Championship event with Tiger Woods to play his first pro tournament in Mexico.
Woods, the winner of a record 18 WGC titles, confirmed last week that he would tee up in the elite 72-player tournament in Mexico City.
The WGC-Mexico - which has a field featuring 46 of the world's top 50 golfers - was first held in Mexico City in 2017 after shedding its old identity as the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida.
Bumper crowds flocked to host course Club de Golf Chapultepec to get a glimpse of stars such as Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy.
But with 14-time major winner Woods present this week, Leishman expects the atmosphere to be electric.
"It's going to be crazy; that's the only way you can put it," Leishman told AAP.
World No.16 Leishman made his debut in Mexico City last year.
Since then, the Victorian has added a fourth US PGA Tour title to his resume and cemented his status among the world's top 20 with sustained excellence.
In seven starts on the US tour this season Leishman has five times finished in the top four, including his fourth placing in Los Angeles on Sunday.
"It was crazy for us last year, and no-one really knew who I was,"said Leishman.
"I just had golf clothes on and people were asking me for my autograph.
"With Tiger, it's going to be off the charts and it's a great thing for the event."
Club de Golf Chapultepec provides an added challenge of altitude with the course sitting 7800 feet above sea level.
Experts and players estimate the golf ball travels 20 per cent further due to the decreased air density.
Chapultepec is also regarded as a strategic layout with plenty of trees, small and quick poa annua greens and dog-legged holes.
"I enjoy the challenge of playing at altitude and judging how far the ball goes," Leishman said.
"I really like the golf course. Hopefully I can play well and post another top five or a win or be nice."
With Jason Day and Adam Scott skipping the event, world No.28 Cameron Smith was the only other Australian to qualify via the top 50 on the rankings.
However, Jake McLeod and Matt Millar secured starts by finishing in the top two on the Australasian Tour's 2018 money list.
Smith picked the brains of defending WGC-Mexico champion Mickelson while playing in his group at last week's PGA Tour event in Los Angeles.
"I was talking to Phil about the course; he said it was pretty funky but if I spent a little bit of time getting to know the distances, I would be fine," Smith said.
