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Cameron Smith believes the support team he's assembled will play a key role in his quest to join fellow Australian Adam Scott in Masters glory at Augusta National.

Preparing for his third Masters, Smith is regarded by his inner sanctum as the same humble youngster from Brisbane's northern suburbs who has refused to let earning $US8.4 million on the US PGA Tour change his attitude.

The 25-year-old won over Australian hearts last year when he said "I'd do anything for the juniors" of Australian golf after paying for young Queenslanders Louis Dobbelaar and Jed Morgan to fly to his Florida base and study his routine.

Smith credits his modesty to a team headlined by New Zealand caddie Sam Pinfold, long-time coach Grant Field, exercise physiologist Nick Randall, American girlfriend Jordan Ontiveros and assistant Jack Wilkosz - a childhood mate who moved to the US last year.

The world No.28 also regularly flies out his father, Des, mother, Sharon, sister, Melissa - and close family friends Jason McDonald and Trevor Spice.

Add in another good friend Luke Humphries, and Smith's entourage at Augusta this week is up to 14.

Smith said he will lean on his team as he chases a maiden major title at the 83rd Masters this week.

"I'm lucky to have a great team around me," Smith told AAP.

"Everyone does their job so well and that allows me to perform on the course.

"Especially when it comes to a tournament as big as the Masters; we all have to be switched on."

The Queenslander's first top-five at Augusta was thanks to a sizzling 66 on the Sunday which included a back-nine of 30, equalling the scoring record after the turn for non-American players.

Smith is confident of another strong finish given he feels more comfortable with each trip to Augusta.

"At my first Masters, I was basically shitting myself on every shot," Smith said of his tie for 55th in 2016.

"But I'm starting to get to know the shots I need to hit and I'm not as nervous as I used to be coming here."

His stats suggest his game is tailor-made for Augusta, which demands accurate iron play and a razor-sharp short game.

On the PGA Tour's 'strokes gained' measurement, Smith ranks 35th in approach play, 19th around the green and 17th in putting.

But one of his biggest weapons, according to Field, is his ability to block out the pressure of major championships.

Smith tied fourth on his major debut at the 2015 US Open.

"Cam has that personality that lends itself toward playing well at the Masters," Field told AAP.

"He really doesn't get wrapped up in the Masters hype, or what goes on around it.

"He is really good at going in and doing his business and trying his best to treat it like any other golf tournament."

Jason Day's long-time coach Colin Swatton says the former world No.1's short game is back to its brilliant best and should be enough to get him in Masters contention once again.

The Australian is regarded as one of the world's best at chipping and putting but has struggled this season.

Although he is still in the top five putters on the US PGA Tour, he has ranked a lowly 98th for strokes gained around the greens.

But Swatton has worked his magic on the 31-year-old Queenslander he has coached since his early teens, with an intense but measured build-up to the Augusta National major.

After daily nine-hole practice rounds at Augusta from Friday through Monday, Swatton likes what he has seen from Day.

"The preparation has been really good. With his short game and touch around the greens, we know he's going to be there come Sunday (final round)," Swatton told AAP at Augusta on Monday.

Day has had several chances to win the Masters, notably on debut in 2011 when he and countryman Adam Scott posted the clubhouse lead late on Sunday.

However, South Africa's Charl Schwartzel birdied the final four holes to steal the green jacket, leaving Day and Scott tied second.

Day also held a one-shot lead over Scott on the 16th hole on Sunday in 2013 but bogeyed that and the 17th - allowing Scott to become the first Australian to win the Masters.

"(Day) could have probably won it twice," added Swatton, an Australian now based in South Carolina.

The close calls at Augusta have left day with a burning desire to add a green jacket to his major championship trophy cabinet, having won the 2015 US PGA Championship.

The Masters is the major Day craves most but he and Swatton know letting it happen naturally is crucial for the often excitable star.

"Jason has mentioned before that sometimes he wants (the Masters) so much, but he needs to let the golf course come to him," Swatton said.

"You can't overpower Augusta National; some of the best golfers in the world have learned that lesson."

Day agreed with his mentor and former caddie.

"It's hard at the Masters because you obviously want to win so badly, but I know I need to stay patient," Day told AAP.

"Having said that, I'm really happy with the preparation Col and I have put in.

"Saturday and Sunday I was out walking the course, just chipping and putting. Overall, the game is in a pretty good place."

Along with a runner-up and a third (2013), Day owns another top 10 while he has also finished within the top 25 in six of the eight Masters he has played.

World No.5 Jin Young Ko has clinched her first golf major title, holding off fellow South Korean Mi Hyang Lee's challenge at the ANA Inspiration in California.

Overnight leader Ko closed with a two-under 70 in hot and mostly calm conditions to finish at 10-under 278 for a three-stroke victory over Lee.

Last year's LPGA rookie of the year, Ko celebrated with the traditional winner's leap into Poppie's Pond.

"It's a really great honor," Ko said on the 18th green.

American Lexi Thompson (67) was solo third at six under while Spain's Carlota Ciganda (68) and In-Kyung Kim (74) shared fourth.

Australia's Katherine Kirk was in halfway contention but faded over the weekend with rounds of 74 and 73 to be tied 17th on two under, one shot ahead of countrywoman and world No.3 Minjee Lee, who closed with a 71.

After bogeys on 13 and 15 cut her lead to a stroke, Ko made a six-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and closed with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th.

The 23-year-old won for the fourth time on the LPGA Tour, completing a desert sweep after taking the Founders Cup in Phoenix. She leads the money list and has five top-three finishes in six events this year.

Ko became the fifth Korean winner of the event after Grace Park (2004), Yoo Sun-young (2012), Inbee Park (2013) and So Yeon Ryu (2017).

Lee parred the final six holes in a two-under 70.

"This is really good momentum for me," she said.

"I'm so happy with this week."

Adam Scott says he wants to be known as more than "just the guy who broke the Masters drought for the Aussies" as he targets a second green jacket this week.

Six years on from his breakthrough Masters victory, Scott appeared carefree as he teed off alongside his father Phil on a practice round at Augusta National on Sunday.

But as casual as former world No.1 Scott can appear, the 38-year-old harbours a burning desire to become the first Australian to win multiple majors since Greg Norman captured his second British Open title in 1993.

He says watching replays of his Masters win - which ended a 77-year wait for Australians at Augusta - still gives him "chills".

"It'd be amazing for me to be a multiple Masters champion and then I might be more than just the guy who broke the drought for the Aussies and become part of Masters history again that way," Scott told AAP.

Back in the world top 30, Scott arrives at the first major of the year buoyed by a turn around in his form following a lean 2018.

Already this year Scott has had two legitimate chances to win on the US PGA Tour - a runner-up to Justin Rose at Torrey Pines and another strong showing at the recent Players Championship.

The 13-time PGA Tour winner says he has ticked every box in his preparation for Augusta this week - his 18th Masters - including a two-day reconnaissance mission with caddie John Limanti early last week.

"It's been a nice stretch of preparation; I've had some rest and worked plenty on my game since the Players," Scott said.

"I did a trip up here for a couple days last week and it definitely got me excited for Masters.

"Now we're here and I feel I could not have done anything more."

Scott has had five top-five results and another three top 10s at the majors since breaking through at Augusta.

His most recent chance was a third placing at the US PGA Championship in Augusta last year, when he played in the final group alongside winner Brooks Koepka and had the lead during the back nine.

Fellow Queenslander Jason Day is also a chance at becoming Australia's first male multiple major winner in 26 years, having won the 2015 PGA Championship.

Day and Scott are joined in the field by countrymen Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith, who was the leading Australian tied for fifth at last year's Masters.

BETTING ODDS FOR AUSTRALIANS AT THE 2019 MASTERS

Jason Day - $31

Adam Scott - $41

Marc Leishman - $51

Cameron Smith - $81

Nick Faldo has declared Marc Leishman the Australian to watch at this week's Masters, while urging Jason Day to play with more finesse at Augusta National.

Casting his eye over the four Australians preparing to tee up in the year's first major from Thursday, three-time Masters champion Faldo rated Leishman among a pool of players with a genuine chance of donning the green jacket.

"Leishman has been good; his putting was great (at the WGC-Match Play) in Texas and I've got him as one of my 20 guys who could win it," said Englishman Faldo, now a highly-regarded TV commentator on the game.

World No.19 Leishman's results this season support Faldo's backing and the 35-year-old has knocking at the door for a maiden major championship breakthrough in recent years.

Faldo hoped former world No.1 Day's recent back injury issues would not hold him back at Augusta.

"How do I rate (Day's) game? It's usually good but it can get a bit restricted if his back tightens up ... we've seen it a couple of times," said Faldo.

World No.14 Day practised for several hours at Augusta on Sunday after telling AAP a day earlier that his back "feels good" after seven days of rest and physiotherapy.

Although Day owns a runner-up finish, a third place and another top-10 in eight starts at the Masters, six-time major champion Faldo said the Queenslander needed to swing smoother on his iron shots if he wanted to climb the Augusta leaderboards.

"We know he goes at it 100 per cent; I'd love to see him play more half shots and soft shots, but it's not really his (method of operation)," Faldo said.

"I'm sure he says 'I do play half shots', but they don't look they don't look like that from the outside at times.

"This is a thinking man's golf course; you have to power it in the right places and then you have to hit really hit smart iron shots in the right places."

Rounding out the Australian contingent at the Masters is 2013 winner Adam Scott and his fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith.

Scott, the 2013 champion, has made the cut in 15 of his 17 Masters appearances.

Having skipped the recent WGC-Match play to focus on Masters preparation, he played a practice round with his father, Phil, on Sunday afternoon.

Smith was due to arrive for practice Monday. He fired a final-round 66 to finish last year's Masters as the leading Australian in a share of fifth.

Jason Day says a week of rest and rehabilitation has his troublesome back "feeling good" as he prepares to begin his Masters preparation at Augusta National.

Australian golf fans can breathe a little easier, knowing the former world No.1 will check in for his first practice round on Sunday (Monday AEDT).

World No.14 Day recently suffered a minor tear in a disc in his back which forced his withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March.

The 31-year-old had multiple cortisone injections around his spine - which were effective - but pain and stiffness plagued him during a solid Players Championship campaign and a group stage elimination from the WGC-Match Play.

That early exit from the Match Play - an event he had won twice - proved a blessing in disguise as Day gained two extra days for rest and physiotherapy on his back.

"Yeah, the back is feeling good and I'm starting to get excited to get into Masters week and sharpen up," Day told AAP.

"Thankfully, I've got a really good team back home (in Ohio) and it was a matter of being strict with my rehab and resting a lot.

"We did a lot of that and the back feels nice."

Day, who has previous second and third placings at the Masters, will take co-caddie Luke Reardon to Augusta this year after Rika Batibasaga carried the clubs for him at last year's Masters.

Reardon and Batibasaga share caddie duties on the US PGA Tour for childhood mate Day but this will be Reardon's first Masters as a caddie.

Day and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott are due to play Sunday afternoon practice rounds, while Australia's form player on the US PGA Tour, Marc Leishman, and Cameron Smith will likely arrive for practice on Monday.

World No.19 Leishman is the only Australian to win a US PGA Tour event this season and has posted three top-four results this year.

He was also the last Australian standing at the WGC-Match Play two weeks ago, making it to the round of 16.

Augusta is forecast to receive rain from Sunday through Tuesday, as well as for Friday's second round.

Australian Katherine Kirk will begin the final round of the ANA Inspiration, the first women's golf major of the year, trailing leader Jin Young Ko by five shots.

Kirk started Saturday in second place and in the final group but a two-over 74 dropped her back to a tie for fifth at three under.

Two back-nine bogeys curtailed Kirk's momentum at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.

South Korean Ko carded a four-under 68 to get to eight-under 208 and hold a one-shot advantage over countrywoman In-Kyung Kim (73), the overnight leader.

Australian world No.3 Minjee Lee had four birdies in a three-under 69 to move back to even par and a share of 26th while countrywoman Sarah Jane Smith (76) slumped to nine over.

Ko's lead could have been larger but she made a double-bogey on the short par-3 14th, when her tee shot found the water, and a bogey a hole later. However, she retrieved the dropped shot with a birdie on the par-3 17th.

Kim, who made a double-bogey seven on the ninth hole, played a bogey-free back nine and finished in style by sinking a six-foot birdie at the last.

Another Korean, Mi Hyang Lee (68) was boosted by a hole-in-one at the 17th and jumped into a share of third with American Danielle Kang (70), three shots from the lead.

Australia's hopes of adding a fifth golfer for next week's Masters appear over with Aaron Baddeley and Matt Jones well off the pace set by Si Woo Kim at the PGA Tour's Texas Open.

South Korean Kim birdied the final hole to card a three-under 69 and got to 15 under, for a one-stroke lead heading into the final round on The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.

Baddeley matched Kim's 69 to be best of the Australian contingent at six under and a share of 24th while Jones (74) slid back to five under and a tie for 40th.

Both must win the event to earn an invitation to the first major of the year and join countrymen Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Adam Scott at Augusta.

Kim started Saturday's play with a four-stroke advantage but his quest for a wire-to-wire victory was put to the test by Canadian Corey Conners, who carded a six-under-par 66 to move to 14 under par.

Conners started his round brilliantly and picked up five shots in the first seven holes, which included almost producing an ace on the par-three third.

He is one shot ahead of 2016 champion Charley Hoffman, who saved the best until last in his 64 as he eagled the 18th after a 284-yard approach shot.

Scott Brown and Jhonattan Vegas both carded 67s to sit in a tie for fourth alongside Kyoung-Hoon Lee, four shots off the lead.

However, others suffered on day three, with former world No.1 Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler each carding rounds of 73 to tumble from a share of second place to a share of 14th.

Spieth did well to manage that, firing five birdies on the back nine to recover from an awful 42 on his front nine on Saturday.

Similarly, Fowler produced an eagle on the 18th to finish the day at seven under.

Kim almost aced the 16th hole for the second day in a row when his seven-iron from 190 yards landed a couple of yards in front of the cup and nearly went in on the second bounce before settling four feet away.

"I saw that first bounce and then right at it. I thought going in for sure this time," Kim told Golf Channel.

"Just missed it."

He missed the birdie putt.

South Korean Kim In-kyung has shot a sparkling seven-under 65 for a three-stroke second round lead ahead of Australian Katherine Kirk at the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage.

The former women's British Open winner made a birdie at the last, her eighth of the day, to close at eight-under 136 in the first major of the year.

Kirk, who had been tied with Kim earlier, held second at five-under after a 68.

First-round leader Ally McDonald was at four-under following a 72 for a share of second with South Korea's Jin Young Ko, with South Korean world number one Park Sun-hyun (70) among three at three-under.

Kim, playing the back nine first, rolled in three birdies in a four-hole stretch twice, the second time to go eight under.

She dropped a stroke with her only bogey at the seventh hole but got it back with another birdie to close her round.

"I put some good speed on it," Kim said of her putting. "I think I got a little bit better job of that today."

Seven years ago Kim narrowly missed out on the tournament trophy when she failed to convert a one-foot putt on the final hole and lost a play-off.

"Long time it was one of my goals," she said of winning the major.

"But now I am just happy to be out here. I have a better understanding of what I am doing out here."

Kirk won the last of her three tour titles in 2017.

"I think my best golf is still ahead of me, which is nice to say at 37," she said.

"All the experience, too, that I have had, I can use to that my advantage or at least try to use it to my advantage."

Canadian Brooke Henderson had been just a stroke off the lead when a triple-bogey at the par-three 14th ruined her round. She finished the day seven strokes off the lead after a 72.

American Michelle Wie looks likely to miss the projected cut after a 77 left her at seven-over 151.

Matt Jones has shot a second round four-under 68 to sit five shots off the lead at the Texas Open, the best of six Australians trying to secure a place in the US Masters at the tournament.

On a consistent day at TPC San Antonio, Jones was bogey-free while managing birdies on the first, second, eighth and the 14th holes to move within five shots of South Korea's Si Woo Kim.

Kim extended his advantage over a second-placed group of five players to four shots with the help of an ace at the 16th.

Kim made the shot at the par-three 16th as well as birdies at the fifth, eighth, 12th and 14th in his round of 66 to open up a healthy lead over six players tied for second, including Jordan Spieth and Ricky Fowler.

Jones is among seven players sharing third, with fellow Australian Danny Lee two shots further back and Curtis Luck and Aaron Baddeley nine shots off the lead at three under.

Kim, 23, held a narrow one-shot lead overnight following his first-round 66.

American pair Harold Varner III and Adam Schenk leapt up the leaderboard after carding rounds of 66 to join former world number one Spieth, Fowler, Canada's Corey Conners and South Korean Kyoung-Hoon Lee in second.

Spieth matched his first-round score of 68 with the help of an eagle and five birdies but he also bogeyed the first, 10th and 12th holes.

Fowler, at one stage tied for the lead, has also produced consecutive rounds of 68, with an eagle and five birdies checked by three bogeys of his own, two of those at the 15th and 16th.