Marc Leishman has revealed his move to the LIV Tour would have been far tougher to make if not for an early promise he'd still be welcome to play on home soil.
Leishman will tee it up at the Australian Open in his home state from Thursday, where men and women will combine for the first time to play at the Victorian and Kingston Heath golf clubs.
He and fellow defector Cameron Smith have been banned from playing European and US PGA Tour events since they joined the lucrative Saudi-backed rebel tour run by compatriot Greg Norman.
But Australian officials have welcomed their trumps cards home, Smith repaying the favour on Sunday with a three-shot win at Brisbane's Australian PGA Championship.
Leishman carded a four-under 67 on Sunday to finish six under in a tie for 12th.
It was an encouraging return to form ahead of a tournament he admitted had always been on his radar, despite a late-year move he said was driven by the promise of huge prize money but also a schedule that created a better work-life balance.
"I was talking to the guys at the British Open (that Smith won in July before the pair defected), Gavin (Kirkman, PGA of Australia CEO) and them, just asking if the LIV guys would be welcome. and they said yes," Leishman told AAP.
"That would have been a lot more difficult decision if it was a no.
"I'm happy with how things are looking for next week, love playing on the Sandbelt, excited to get back to Victoria and hopefully contend."
Smith's Open Championship victory ensured he'll contest the four majors next year, something Leishman said was a factor he had to weigh up now that he's outside the world's top 50 and potentially set to miss them for the first time in more than a decade.
Leishman is adamant the tours can co-exist, arguing there is a place for the 54-hole teams event that will make an Australian debut in Adelaide in March.
Critics of Saudia Arabia's human rights record and vocal opposition of the LIV Tour from world No.1 Rory McIlroy has meant Leishman has copped his share of abuse on social media.
"But nothing face to face; it's been amazing here," Leishman, whose caddie Matt Kelly wore a LIV Golf hat throughout the tournament, said.
"It's just social media ... there's no consequences for what's said there, so I don't take much from that.
"But in person it's been amazing, wholeheartedly."
He's watched Smith rise to stardom this year, his status underlined by the swathes of fans - young and old - who hung on his every shot at Royal Queensland.
Smith credited his emotional win on Sunday night to his grandmother, who walked the course every day after finishing a second round of chemotherapy.
"It's awesome to see, he's a gun," Leishman said.
"A great golfer but a really good person that goes along with it and that means a lot to people that have watched him grow up and he'll never change."
