Daniel Augustus will do something he has never done before when he steps on to the first tee at the Bermuda Open tomorrow, he will hit his first competitive shot as a professional.

The 22-year-old Bermudian made the decision to turn pro yesterday, after realising the time had come to take the next step in what he hopes will be a long and successful career.

Already the Island's top amateur, Augustus had been toying with the idea of turning professional for some time, and some not-so-gentle prodding from friends and colleagues finally convinced him to make the move.

"Everybody was pushing for me to become pro, I was surprised but it helped me because it confirmed what I was already thinking and the way I wanted to go," said Augustus.

"It's time, it was the right time to do it, not just for me but with the country's national championship coming up as well."

Already entered in the Open as an amateur, Augustus said that his change in status wouldn't have a negative impact on his week. In fact he thinks it'll make things better.

"It feels like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders," he said. "It was only a matter of time before I turned pro, it will change the week for the better, I don't think it will change it for the worst."

The Port Royal employee couldn't have picked a better location to make his professional debut. Competing at his home course should give Augustus a decent shot at the $20,000 first prize – not that he's thinking about it. Right now he just wants to figure out how to pay his way to several mini tour events in the US.

"I'm talking to some people about money, and a good showing this week wouldn't hurt me but I haven't really been thinking about the $20,000 and I don't want to think about that," he said.

Augustus always wanted to be a professional golfer and the moment he knew he had the game to succed it was all he ever wanted. Like many, he dreamed his route would take him through college and eventually on to the PGA Tour. It hasn't worked out like that though.

"College is something I wanted to do, I honestly did," he said. "But life didn't work out that way, and sometimes life doesn't go according to plan, like playing college golf, the US Am. It didn't happen and this is the way I need to go now.

"Right now I'm going to play in some mini tour events whenever I can, go to the US for a couple of weeks at a time. I have a few people who I am interested in seeing as far as coaching goes

"I'll mostly play around Orlando because I have family down there, the Moonlight Tour, the Hooters Tour, they're mostly in that area, and hopefully from there I'll progress to the Canadian Tour, the Nationwide Tour and then the PGA Tour."

Wherever he goes, Augustus knows that he'll have the support he needs at home, and his decision to make the jump to professional golf has been warmly welcomed at Port Royal.

"We are all delighted that Daniel has made this decision," said director of golf Andrew Brooks. "We'll back him all the way in what he's trying to do. It was the right time for him to do this and I'm happy he has taken this path.

"It's also great to see a young Bermudian lad going out and chasing his dream. It should be applauded. It would have been easy for him to sit at Port Royal and not take the risk, but he didn't and hopefully it's a decision that will pay off for him."