Bermuda's professional tour golfer Michael Sims has agreed to an endorsement deal with leading equipment manufacturer Titleist.

"Everything's pretty much set. I just have to get the contracts and sign them. I'm signing a bag, shoe, glove and ball deal," Sims confirmed, speaking to The Royal Gazette yesterday en route to a New England Pro Tour event in Vermont.

Though not divulging any details, the 23-year-old disclosed there was also a monetary component to the agreement which he expects to sign by mid-month.

Explaining that he has used Titleist equipment and clothing since he was "about 12 or 13", Sims said he felt a loyalty to the company which had been "helping me out" from his days as a junior.

"I've always used their golf balls and their clubs and worn their shoes and I know a lot of people who work for Titleist. It was something that was going to happen, it was just a matter of when. This is something I have always wanted.

"They have always taken care of me and I'm not just going to switch all of a sudden because I'm a pro. It's what works for me, obviously."

He noted this deal - like the one he signed here with XL Capital in March - would make "my life extremely easy" while pursuing his dream of becoming a successful professional golfer.

"Without them (sponsors) I wouldn't be able to do what I am doing right now," said Sims, who graduated from the University of Rhode Island at the end of April with a business degree.

Since joining the professional ranks in January, the Bermudian has been competing in a series of tournament qualifiers across the United States.

Following the disappointment of not making the cut in his first Buy.com Tour tournament - the second annual BMW Charity Pro-Am in South Carolina in April - Sims has played in Buy.com qualifiers in Virginia Beach, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. On three occasions he has been in play-offs where 10 golfers were vying for two places. But he lost out each time.

On Monday, he missed the cut for the US Open by 10 shots.

Asked if it was heartening or disheartening that he is so close, yet still elusively far from qualifying for tournaments, he replied: "It's both. It's a love-hate relationship.

"I always try to take the positive out of my experiences. There are negatives too but you just have to deal with them. I have to deal with the dejection when things go wrong.

"I'm playing well. I'm obviously just one or two shots away. If I could have played a shot or two better in all three of those (qualifiers) I would have gotten into those events."

In keeping with his upbeat attitude Sims reaffirmed that he was "glad to be in this situation" since "it's what every golfer, who is trying to qualify, lives for - having that opportunity."

Regarding his game, the rookie professional highlighted one area that, at present, could be the difference between getting into tournaments or not.

"I've been shooting under-par in all these qualifiers but I think if I was putting a little better it would help. I'm just not making any putts right now and it's been a bit frustrating.

"My putter and me aren't getting along well but that's okay. We go through streaks like that," he said, chuckling.