Ask American golfer Boo Weekley what he knows about Australia and he answers beer and meat pies.

Unlike many of the professionals teeing up in this week’s Australian Masters tournament in Melbourne, Weekley works to live, not lives to work.

Ranked world No.124, Weekley was lured down under by fellow laid-back PGA player, Australian Steven Bowditch, who has become a great friend.

And Weekley, whose real name is Thomas, likes what he has seen.

“It’s pretty good,” he said.

“I mean, best thing I’ve eaten is one of them meat pies. Them things are good man.”

He said Bowditch and himself, who will tee off in the same group in the opening round at Metropolitan Golf Course, were like “two peas in a pod”.

They have plans to go fishing after the Australian Open in Sydney next week and then hunting when they return to the US.

While he has won on the US PGA tour three times, the 41-year-old from Florida has been troubled in recent years by shoulder injuries.

He still harbours ambitions of winning in Melbourne but won’t be too fussed if he doesn’t.

“It’s just golf, man. They can’t kill you and eat you out here,” Weekley said.

“It’s just whether I shoot a hundred or if I shoot 50, still going to be golf one way or the other.

“I’m going to go out and play the best I can play.”

Weekley is a fan of the sand-belt course, rating it in the top 10 he’s played.

“It’s a neat golf course,” he said.

“I never played a golf course where the green ran off into the bunker.

“I’m glad I came over and got to play.”

He said he hoped to return to Australia when he retired in four or five years.

“When I’m done with golf, I’ll fish and hunt all day and maybe come over here and visit and shoot me some kangaroos and catch some fish and whatever else.”