But it would be quite a feat for Chad Pfeifer, who'd never hit a golf ball before having his left leg blown off in the Iraq war.

"There were definitely a few times when I got pretty depressed and wanted to commit suicide and it was golf that gave me something to look forward to," Pfeifer told AAP on Thursday.

"So it definitely saved my life."

Twelve years on from that life-changing day while serving in the US Army, Pfiefer is among 12 players teeing off in the second All Abilities Championship in Sydney.

The first amputee veteran to get a start on the web.com tour, the secondary tour in the US, Pfeifer plays off a plus-two handicap and once carded 10-under par around his home club in Idaho.

He and his rivals will hit off from the same tees as Adam Scott and co and don't want any favours from officials.

"Ultimately it will come down to putting," Pfeifer said.

"I think the big difference between us and the (able-bodied) tour players is they're used to putting on greens this quick.

"So it will be who adjusts quicker and best to the green speeds (who wins the all abilities title)."

Pfeifer, 38 and married with three young children, is a remarkable story.

After growing up playing baseball, he laughed when a double amputee, while trying to keep spirits up at an army hopsital in Texas, asked him for a game of golf during his 15-month stint in rehab.

"I reluctantly agreed to go to golf and hit a couple off the sweet spot and absolutely fell in love with it," Pfeifer said.

"I got the golf bug and got hooked and basically after that that's all I wanted to do.

"I'd do my therapy in the morning and just go out and golf in the afternoon."

He's won multiple disabled and amputee tournaments around the world, including in Australia earlier this year.

It was at the Albertsons Boise Open in 2015 that Pfeifer created web.com tour history.

He missed the cut but so too did reigning Australian Open champion Abraham Ancer, whose opening round three-over 74 was only one shot better than Pfeifer's.

Last year's All Abilities Championship winner Johann Kammerstad fired 17-over for the 54 holes around The Lakes.

The Swede is back to defend his title and is one of the favourites along with Pfeifer.

Australian Associated Press