Recent thunderstorms in Mexico might well be a blessing in disguise for one Bermudian golfer in the Nations Cup while a headache for his partner.

All summer Michael Sims has endured soggy golf courses on the Golden Bear Tour in Florida now, compliments of Tropical Storms Larry and Olaf that have dumped torrents of rain on the country, he is facing similar circumstances as he heads into the World Cup qualifier, starting today at El Tigre Golf Club in Puerto Vallarta.

Therefore, battling wet surfaces over the coming days should pose less trouble for him than others in the competition.

"It shouldn't be much of a problem because I carry the ball quite a way. All my shots have carry and I also played in conditions like this for most of the summer. In the Golden Bear Tour it was really wet so this is not abnormal for me," said Sims yesterday.

However, major showers since last weekend, including heavy downpours from 4 p.m. on Monday right through the night, could affect his team-mate Dwayne Pearman.

"It's a very nice golf course but it's playing long and it's really wet out here. There's been a lot of rain so it's going to make the course even longer.

"But everybody is playing under the same conditions. It should be a good tournament," said Pearman, maintaining optimism despite the bleak outlook.

"I don't know if we're going to get another practice round. A lot of bunkers are under water but we're hoping to get back out there."

The pair were able to play two practice sessions early on Monday and expressed satisfaction with their form.

"Michael is hitting the ball pretty good and I'm hitting it okay. Hopefully things go well for us and the outcome will be all right.

"I feel pretty good off the tee and I'm putting pretty good but the course is so long, unlike in Bermuda where you hit a lot of seven irons and nine irons to the greens, down here you're hitting three and four irons which make a big difference.

"So that's the only thing I'm really concerned about. Otherwise I'm okay," said 40-year-old Pearman.

Sims (24) surmised it would require a combination of patience and good scores for Bermuda to finish among the top two teams, thereby advancing to next month's World Cup.

"I think it's going to take some patience because we have the alternate-shot format on two of the days.

"I think those are days that we just have to be patient and take what it gives us.

"On the other two days we just have to make lots of birdies," said the 24-year-old, now in his second year as a pro.

Assessing their chances, Pearman noted "if we stick together and we're both hitting the ball well then we stand a good chance".

He is well aware though that all 20 teams in the event have equal opportunity to snatch top honours.

"All the guys are good players. They wouldn't be here if they weren't so it could go any way. Only two teams qualify so it's going to be a grind.

"Everybody has to take care. We're playing alternate shots for two days which is kind of tough but we'll see how it goes."