Daniel Augustus reckons the slick greens at Fairmont Southampton will play to his advantage during this weekend’s Bacardi National Par3 Championship.

The greens at the par-54 Southampton lay-out have been lightning fast all week and are expected to remain that way for the duration of the 36-hole championship that gets underway today.

Augustus, who is gunning for a second win in this event, got a feel for the greens during a practice round earlier this week.

“We played up here on Monday and they were rolling,” he said. “They have softened up a bit because the guys (ground staff) have been watering them.

“But they are going to shave them down again which I think we play into my hands because I like fast greens.”

Last year’s winner is also pinning his hopes for success on his short game.

“My putting has improved and around this golf course; it is all about your short game. I do feel like I’m striking it well, rolling it well and chipping it well so I’m pretty confident going into the weekend. It’s really just a matter of it all coming together.”

Augustus will have his work cut out for him among a formidable field that includes former PGA Tour player Ian Leggett, past Canadian Open winner Ian Doig and reigning Gosling’s Invitational winner Joe Horowitz to name a few.

“When there are bigger names in the field that means you have to have a bigger game and you are only as good as the company you keep,” Augustus said. “If you are playing against better players then your game automatically becomes better.

“I believe that this is the best field in this tournament so far which is great for the game of golf in this Island.”

Fairmont Southampton Director of Golf Anthony Mocklow, added: “This tournament has grown in participation and excitement since we launched the first Bacardi National Par 3 Championship in 2010.”

The big-hitting Augustus, who will tee off today alongside George Correia and Tomasz Tabor, will head into this weekend’s tournament with high expectations of himself.

“In all honesty I want to win and I never play unless I feel as if I can win,” he said. “I don’t want to say I am going to win and get ahead of myself.

“But that’s my intention, I intend to win. I have won this tournament before and so I already know what it takes to win.”