IT is the tour that launched the careers of a number of the top golfers in the world. Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and a seven-time PGA Tour champion along with US Open winner Michael Campbell, British Open champion Todd Hamilton as well as household names like Chris DiMarco, Stuart Appleby and Dave Barr, all started out on the Canadian Tour.

And now Bermuda's Michael Sims is aiming to climb similar heights after gaining his Canadian Tour card last weekend at the Winter Qualifying School in California which had over 140 pros from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South Korea vying for the 20 spots available this year.

Sims gets his first taste of the Canadian Tour next week when he travels to the Barton Creek Resort in Austin, Texas for the first tournament of 2006.

"This is a real confidence boost," Sims said earlier this week about getting his tour card. "I feel that I now have a home."

Sims, who tore up the Port Royal layout late last year on his way to winning the Bermuda Open by a record 12-under par, has been waiting for some months to see his good ball striking turn into consistent low scores. And last weekend at the Los Serranos Golf and Country Club he opened with a sizzling 66 in the first round of qualifying eventually coming in with a four-round total of 281 (66, 74, 72, 69).

"I have been hitting the ball very well for some time," he said. And now he is making those crucial putts.

With Canada still in a deep freeze at this time of year, the Canadian Tour travels from Texas to California and then to Mexico before heading north to British Columbia in June and from there the tournaments are spread over Canada taking in courses in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Niagara Falls.

Sims said of his play a week ago at the two courses used for qualifying ? Los Serranos and Green River: "It is a great way to start the year. In the opening round I hit the ball really well and putted really well ? I had eight birdies and two bogeys. It was nice to go to qualifying school and get through ? it has given me some confidence.

"The Canadian Tour is going to be a good place to play this year. It is always nice to have a place you can call home. And there are also some nice benefits of playing on the tour so those are the things that you look forward to as well."

And with the Canadian Tour's schedule spread out Sims will still be trying to get into other tournaments through Monday qualifying.

He said: "The Canadian Tour's schedule is a little sporadic so it does give me the opportunity to do some Mondays this year to try and qualify for some other tournaments. Getting my card has given me a lot of confidence."

And the Bermudian put much of his recent success down to working with two people ? Donn Smith from the Distinct Advantage agency in Vancouver and his coach Steve Napoli who is based in Rhode Island.

"Working with Donn and Steve has helped a lot ? those guys have been a great influence. Donn has helped a lot overall ? not just with the golf but other things as well ? but they are things that translates into golf."

Sims' fellow pros in Bermuda have also been cheered by his success.

Brian Morris, president of the Bermuda Professional Golf Association and head pro at Belmont Hills where Sims is the touring pro, said: "I speak to Michael every week and I am so happy for him. People in Bermuda do not realise how tough it is out there ? and especially for Michael who is travelling by himself and working hard. It is not the glamorous life some people might think it is. The Canadian Tour will give Michael a lot of opportunities."

Kim Swan, who has played on both the European Tour and Canadian Tour said: "I am always keeping tabs on where Michael is playing and how he is doing and I was very impressed when he shot that 66 in the opening round.

"This is going to be great for Michael's confidence. That 66 he shot in the opening round is consistent to the 65 and 64 rounds he shot at the Bermuda Open. Every time you shoot one of those rounds competitively it is going to boost you confidence. I have always said that I feel that Michael has the ability to play at the highest level of golf. I have never doubted that from when he was in college."

Sims starred for the University of Rhode Island before turning pro in May of 2002 after winning the prestigious North/South Match Play tournament.

"Michael has the ability to compete on the world stage," said Swan adding, "Michael has been persevering with his game and it is now paying off. He is now getting some rewards in his scores."

Dwayne Pearman, who last week successfully defended his BPGA Championship title, said of Sims: "It is great news for Michael and I am sure he will get his PGA card at some point. Being on the Canadian Tour will now give him a home to play and the com