With the majority of international tours still weeks away from starting their 2021 seasons, the Blitz Golf Glenelg event has attracted a stellar field of Aussie pros who ply their trade in America, Europe, Japan and Asia.

Defending champion and Australian golf icon Peter Senior returns to Glenelg but the 61-year-old will face stiff competition from the likes of Champions Tour regular David McKenzie, New Zealand Open champion Brad Kennedy, Matthew Griffin and Marcus Fraser. The tournament also boasts four of the most promising female professionals in Australia in Karis Davidson, Becky Kay, Kristalle Blum and Montana Strauss.

The innovative format sees half the field eliminated after six holes of strokeplay, the second round played over three holes with the top four qualifying for the final one-hole shootout where the ultimate winner will be determined.

Ormsby was expecting to be in Hong Kong this week to defend the title he won for the second time last January but its delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic provided a rare opportunity to play on home soil, an opportunity he admits was too good to refuse.

“I haven’t played in South Australian tournament conditions for 14 years,” said Ormsby, who missed the cut at the 2007 Jacob’s Creek Open at Kooyonga Golf Club in his last Adelaide appearance.

“When you play all over the world there’s nothing like playing at home. That was one of the main reasons I wanted to play here.

“Initially Hong Kong was mooted to be starting next week and that’s why I wasn’t going to play the Blitz. That’s when I got into practice and then Hong Kong got postponed so that opened a nice little door to play in South Australia.

“Even though it’s a smaller event than we’re used to playing it’s still nice to play tournament golf, especially at home.”

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Not only is Ormsby playing in his home state for the first time in more than a decade, he enters the event with a strong family history at Glenelg and with some inside knowledge on his side.

Ormsby’s grandfather was a member at Glenelg, his father Peter did his traineeship at the club and his mother grew up on the street that sits alongside the fifth fairway.

Add to that the fact that his short-game coach Adrian Wickstein who will be on the bag on Sunday is a two-time Club Champion at Glenelg and Ormsby knows he is holding some strong cards.

“My short game coach, Adrian Wickstein is going to caddie for me and he’s been a member there for a long time,” says Ormsby, Wickstein currently serving as Golf Australia’s State High Performance Manager in South Australia.

“He knows the place like the back of his hand so I’ll have things on my side on that front.

“We played 36-hole Vardon events as juniors there and I played the six holes that we’re going to be playing last Monday so I’ve got a fair idea of how to get myself around the joint.”

As for the format itself, Ormsby recognises that there is a delicate balance to be struck between control and aggression in order to be the last player standing.

“Obviously in such a short format you’ve got to make sure you get the jump on guys because you’re not going to have the time to claw your way back,” Ormsby conceded.

“I’ve only just got my head around it. I think if you just play solid and smart in the six-hole match you’ll give yourself a chance of moving on but after that you’re going to have to be a little bit more aggressive.

“It’s all going to be dependent on the conditions and how they set the course up with the pins but I’ll just try and play my game and do what I do best and try and get myself to the front that way.

“And then at the end you’ll have to attack to try and win the thing. Hopefully I’ll be close.”

Play will begin at Glenelg Golf Club from 12:30pm ACDT. View the full field at pga.org.au.  Follow along with all the Blitz Golf action on Instagram.