Michael Sims has barely touched a golf club since qualifying for a second Bermuda Championship.

The 41-year-old professional has tapered his preparations for next week’s 72-hole PGA Tour event as he undergoes treatment for a “back problem” that flared during the opening round of last week’s local qualifier at Port Royal Golf Course.

“I have some back problems going on and have touched a golf club very little,” Sims said. “I’m getting some treatment from Apex Therapy and then resting.

“It started on the third hole of the qualifier. I was hitting a pitching wedge on hole number three and something just happened and everything locked up.”

Sims has responded well to the treatment and says his condition is nothing to be concerned about.

“I am not concerned, I will be OK,” he added. “My back is fine.”

The former Korn Ferry Tour player rallied in the final round of last week’s 36-hole local qualifier to clinch one of the three qualifying spots up for grabs.

He started the round one shot outside of the final qualifying spot at two-over-par 73 and was three over at the turn after making double bogeys at the 2nd and 5th holes and bogey at Nos 6 and 8.

But with his hopes hanging in the balance, Sims pulled it together when it mattered most as he played the back nine at one under par and ended with a bang after getting up and down for birdie on the last two holes to repeat his qualifying feat of 2019.

“I managed to squeak through,” said Sims with a huge grin.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity I have. I get to play in a PGA Tour event for the second time in my homeland and how does it get much better than that?

“It’s just kind of neat to be able to have this kind of opportunity and obviously it’s a special opportunity that we get in our qualifying too.

“I am beyond excited to take part next week. I just want to try and be as competitive as I can and letting it fall where it falls.”

Camiko Smith and Anthony Phipps secured the remaining qualifying spots at last week’s local qualifier. Smith closed with 141 to win the event by five shots from Phipps and Sims.

Sims competed at last year’s inaugural Bermuda Championship along with compatriots Dwayne Pearman, Daniel Augustus, Kenny Leseur and Jarryd Dillas.

Sims finished highest among the five local players through 36-holes at even par, just two shots shy of the cut, Augustus at five over with amateur Dillas two shots back at seven over.

Leseur, the eighth-youngest player to play in the PGA Tour event at 15, finished at ten over and veteran professional Pearman at 17 over.

Sims’s second round one-under 70 was also the only sub-par round achieved among the local players.

The 2020 Bermuda Championship will be played from October 29 to November 1.

Brendon Todd, from Athens, Georgia, will return to defend the title he won by four shots last year.

This year’s field also boasts major champions Padraig Harrington, Danny Willett, Stewart Cink and Jason Dufner.