Former Nationwide Tour player Brian McCann will be looking to erase painful memories of his previous visit to these shores at next week’s Bermuda Open at Port Royal.The Canadian pro suffered heartache at last November’s Gosling’s Invitational after allowing the title to slip through his fingers when it was there for the taking.McCann led the field by two shots heading into the final round but had to settle for bridesmaid honours after being pipped for the title by a single shot by fellow Canadian Bill Walsh who came from four shots back to claim a second Gosling’s Invitational crown.“I think I gave that one away,” McCann told The Royal Gazette. “But I’m looking forward to the Bermuda Open and the guy that I’m travelling down there with is the guy (Walsh) who won the Gosling’s where I let it slip away.”McCann and Walsh are among the 18 overseas pros competing in this year’s Bermuda Open that will see the return of the event’s original format featuring professional and men and ladies amateurs. Other overseas pros set to compete include multiple Bermuda Open winner Ian Doig (Canada), past Gosling’s Invitational winner Joe Horowitz (USA) and Jordan Mitchell (USA).McCann captured his sole Bermuda Open title here in 2008 and he is now hoping that lightening strikes twice.“I’m returning without having played golf outside in three and a half months so that’s the challenge,” he said. “But I’m certainly looking forward to coming back and obviously winning the title again. All in all it’s going to be fun to play competitive golf again.”When asked for his thoughts on the field, McCann replied: “It doesn’t really matter who’s there. The field is always going to be competitive.“I wish there was more people in it because it’s a national open and I would think more people would play. But the people that are there are certainly quality players.”In order to claim a second Bermuda Open crown McCann will have to conquer any demons that the challenging 6842-yard, par 71 Port Royal layout may throw at him.“Truthfully, I like the old Port Royal ... just the character of it I like a bit better than it is now,” he said. “The good players could shoot a lot lower with the old Port Royal than the new one.“They are both fantastic and I definitely think they’ve made the new golf course more difficult than it was in the past. The golf course is much more of a challenge now in my opinion.”McCann, who is set to tee off in Monday’s opening round alongside local pro Camiko Smith and overseas pro Brian Hutton, is making his first appearance at the Bermuda Open since 2010.“The last couple of years I haven’t had a chance to play because they (tournament organisers) changed the dates which conflicted with a tournament I had to play in Canada,” he explained.Local pro Daniel Augustus is the defending Bermuda Open champion.Augustus could very well be in the thick of contention again along with past Bermuda Open winner and Port Royal head pro Dwayne Pearman.Scott Barnett and Jevon Roberts are among the favourites in the amateur field.There are no ladies amateur competing this year following the late withdrawal of Tariqah Walikraam.At age 16, promising local amateur Cory DeSilva is the youngest golfer in the field.