Axed LIV Golf rebel Wade Ormsby boosted his hopes of returning to the Saudi-funded circuit with victory in the latest International Series event on the Asian Tour.
Veteran Ormsby - snubbed by LIV after playing in all eight events in its inaugural season - was back in the winners circle for the first time in three years with a dramatic win at the International Series Thailand.
The Australian was two shots behind the leaders heading into Sunday's final round, but shot a superb seven-under-par 65 to force a play-off with Thai star Chonlatit Chuenboonngam. And Ormsby edged out his rival on the first play-off hole as he holed a clutch 12ft birdie putt to claim his fourth Asian Tour title.
Ormsby earned $360,000 (£296,000) for his victory at the Black Mountain course in Hua Hin, but also crucially lifted his chances of making a return to the rebel LIV series fronted by his countryman Greg Norman.
The winner of the International Series Order of Merit is guaranteed a place on the LIV roster next season, and Ormsby is second on the list behind another former LIV renegade in Andy Ogletree. Three qualifying spots are also made available during a LIV Promotions event made up of players who have finished between second and 32nd on the Order of Merit.
And an upturn in form has come at the right time for Ormsby, who suffered a huge career blow when he was not retained for the 48-man LIV roster for the expanded 14-event 2023 season.
Ormsby had even been one of the first LIV Golf captains, leading 'Punch GC' in the disruptive inaugural season, before being demoted following the arrival of Open champion Cameron Smith.
He was then axed completely and replaced by Aussie youngster Jediah Morgan in a team that has since been renamed as Ripper GC. But the 42-year-old is determined to make his way back onto the lucrative breakaway LIV tour ahead of its third season in 2024.
"The International Series events are massively important," Ormsby said. "They’re the logical stepping stone back to LIV for me. My number one priority is to get my game back to where I can get into tournaments and start to contend for wins.
“As far as getting back to LIV, I’ll lay it out there. If you win the International Series Order of Merit you’re back there.
"Alternatively, you’ve got the Promotions event at the end of the year, so I’m definitely aiming to be in that to try and get back there.”
