Frequent visitor Bill Walsh had nothing to lose and everything to gain heading into last year’s $60,000 Gosling’s Invitational.

But that will not be the case this time around as the Canadian professional attempts to defend the title that he won after edging compatriot Brian McCann by a single shot in blustery conditions.

Walsh, who is also a past Bermuda Open champion, came from four shots back to claim a second Gosling’s Invitational crown after McCann’s game unravelled at the seam when it mattered most.

Walsh arrived on Island on Saturday and took full advantage of the ideal conditions to reacquaint himself with the par-71 Belmont Hills Golf Course.

“I played 18 holes [Saturday] and 36 today, so I am ready to go,” he said yesterday. “My swing feels good and I know where the ball is going, so we should be good. The course is in great shape and I think it will be fun and a good week for the guys.”

Walsh intends to approach the tournament as he does for any other. “I just go out and play my game,” he said. “I just want to be in a position going into the last round where if I play well, I can win.

“I’m not going to go out tomorrow morning trying to win the tournament. I will just go and try and hit good shots. It’s an old saying, but one shot at a time and one hole at a time and then go from there.”

Walsh is among a record field of 43 professionals that includes previous winners Dwayne Pearman, the Port Royal and Bermuda professional, and Americans Joe Horrowitz and Kirk Hanefeld.

“It’s a good field this year,” Walsh added. “I haven’t played for the last couple of weeks, but I feel pretty good and I just want to put myself in a position to contend on Thursday and see what happens.”

Walsh will officially launch his title defence when he tees off at 7.56am in today’s first round on the back nine in a threesome that also includes overseas players David Wettlaufer and Jim Zwolak.