Daniel Augustus reckons his career is headed in the right direction after producing a string of victories competing on the Moonlight Golf Tour in Florida this year.

The Bermudian professional has six wins under his belt to date, a remarkable feat he attributes to the considerable time he has invested working on his fitness and technique.

But while he is inspired by his success, Augustus points out that there is room for growth.

“I’m just trying to be the best version of myself that I can be,” he said. “I know I still haven’t reached my best version yet, so I am going to keep on pushing to get to the next level.

“I know that there’s still a whole lot in store for me, especially scoring wise. I am getting to a place where shooting six under is like a norm, but I need to get more rounds in where I shoot nine, ten under. That’s the next level that I’m prepared to get to.”

The 34-year-old’s ultimate goal is to secure PGA Tour status, and he is confident he has what it takes to compete at that level.

“I know that I have the ability and the strength to play on the PGA Tour,” he said.

“I have lipped out for 59 before, I have shot 60 and you can’t be an average golfer and shoot 60.

“I’ve always known that I am capable of being a PGA Tour player and it’s a matter of me making it a reality. I believe I’m walking in the right way and it’s just a matter of time.”

Augustus has held his own competing against PGA Tour calibre players on the Moonlight Golf Tour, which has also bolstered his confidence.

“It lets me know that I can compete with the best because you always have a PGA Tour player or Nationwide Tour guy in there,” he said. “If I can play better than them consistently that means that I can play on their tours as well.

“That is the goal that I have, and these steps of me shooting under par more consistently is a good sign that I am going in the right direction.”

Success has not come without a cost as the past Bermuda Open champion has made tremendous sacrifices.

“I have sacrificed everything,” Augustus said. “I have had to sacrifice relationships, friends and everything that I have money-wise. I have put everything into this. I have gone out and given it my all, and that’s the only way you can get there.”

Acquiring funding has also presented its challenges, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I really need full financial backing,” Augustus said. “People don’t realise it takes $70,000 plus a year to come out here and do like Q-School and Monday qualifiers, which is why I haven’t been playing Monday qualifiers. I just don’t have the money for that and been out here playing Moonlights because that’s all I can afford.

“Unfortunately the people that were backing me and helping me the most, because of Covid and their financial status, I haven’t had the resources financially – and that’s the biggest thing. Financially it takes a lot and very few guys that have what I have, which is not much, get through that part of it.”

The lack of funding has also impacted on the player’s ability to travel.

“I need a P 1 visa so that I can travel freely, and that costs up to $7,000,” he said. “That’s the next step.

“That is a lot of money just to spend on a visa when most of my finances go towards me playing professionally.”

The P1 visa is a speciality US visa exclusively for athletes (or other entertainers) and their coaches or support staff.

However, despite these setbacks, Augustus is determined to stay the course in pursuit of his goals.

“I am steadfast determined and my faith in God has been helping me,” he said. “My faith in God and believing that this is what he wants me to do.

“When you want something bad enough you don’t care what it takes. You do whatever you have to do to get it, and that’s where I am.

“I am going to make it and do whatever to takes to make it. It’s a mindset and the faith that has been instilled in me from my mother and grandmother.”