Aberdeen native Richie Ramsay is pleased to be back on home soil for the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play at Murcar Links Golf Club.
The 32 year old arrives in Scotland fresh from a strong performance at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland last week, where he finished in a share of tenth place.
The 2006 US Amateur Champion is among the 64 man field contesting this week's event, which includes two time Major Champion John Daly and former Open Championship winner and host Paul Lawrie.
Ramsay is the course record holder at Murcar Links, having shot an outstanding 62 as an amateur in the Scottish Challenge in 2006, and he is relishing the prospect of playing match play golf at the venue.
He said: "It is good to have another tournament in Scotland.
"This is a course that lends itself well to match play, because obviously you can see the wind out there and the type of golf course it is.
"It is very much risk and reward and has a great history of golf.
"You add all those things in and put John Daly in the mix there, as well - that adds a little spice to it."
Ramsay, who will take on India's Shiv Kapur in the opening round on Thursday, knows home advantage will be an important factor but he does not expect it to set him apart from a very strong field.
"I think all the guys are really good players," he added.
"I do not know how many titles there are between the 64 guys, but there are a huge amount of winners in there. Home advantage is important but I do not think it is the decisive thing.
"It does help. On days like today when it is windy, I know exactly how far the ball flies in these distances, whereas guys who play in warmer climates won't understand how short it goes.
"It is very hard to get your head around when an eight iron in a warmer climate can go 170 and yet an eight iron goes 120 (here). That is difficult to comprehend.
"So those little things do help me."
This week’s tournament is one of a handful of European Tour events in the schedule which is not a standard stroke play competition, and Scotland’s highest ranked golfer Marc Warren is looking forward to a change of format.
The 34 year old, who finished in a share of fourth place at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open earlier in the month, said: “It is nice to have a change in the schedule, not as a regular four round tournament, and obviously match play is a very different style of golf.
“It has got a very good field this week.
“There have been a lot of big events and lots of guys have turned up. Part of that is due to the change of format. Everyone is kind of buzzing about it. Everyone is excited, seeing the format.
“Everybody knows pressure is on them to get through the first round.
"I think Paul (Lawrie) has done a great job. It's incredible what he is doing for golf and the whole of Scotland, not just up here, and then adding tournaments like this to it is pretty incredible.”
