Rookie pro golfer Michael Sims has qualified for the Buy.com Tour's Knoxville Open, starting today in Tennessee.

Sims shot 67 in Monday's qualifier but then had to endure another sudden-death play-off as he was among eight players who tied for eighth place. Unlike in three previous Buy.com play-offs, this time fortune favoured the Bermudian - one of 208 golfers vying for the tournament's 14 spots for qualifiers.

"I flew down on Sunday and played a practice round before the Monday qualifer. I shot a 67 but then I had to sit around all day and wait. At 8.45 p.m. I had to go into a play-off because eight of us were tied and there were seven spots available.

"They only take 14 qualifiers and seven people had shot better than 67 so the eight of us had to play off for the seven remaining spots," explained the 23-year-old, speaking to TheRoyal Gazette yesterday.

Sims, who tees off for his first round at 2.58 p.m. (Bermuda time) today, is aiming to do well enough today and tomorrow (teeing off at 10.18 a.m.) to make the cut and then "see what I can do on the weekend". Bermudians can follow their compatriot's progress on the PGA Tour website (www.pgatour.com) which will have live scoring from the tournament.

"I feel pretty good. I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable out here. You've definitely got to get into that comfort zone. The first one (Buy.com for which he qualified) was overwhelming and then last week I felt a little more comfortable. I am gradually getting there," said Sims.

His luck may be taking a slow but decided turn for the better as he also qualified for last week's Lake Erie Buy.com tournament by shooting 66. However, he missed the cut by two shots and did not advance to play last weekend.

Sims' tournament schedule takes him to Hershey, Pennsylvania, next week for another Buy.com event.

"This is how it works and you'll see what I mean that there are many different scenarios possible. If I don't make the cut here I will try to leave Friday evening or Saturday morning and fly to Hartford, Connecticut, to get my car and drive to Hershey early.

"If I make the cut but don't finish in the top 25, I am going to have to get to Hartford on Sunday and drive to Hershey in time for the Monday qualifier. Now, if I make the cut and finish in the top 25, I am exempt for the next tournament so I don't have to qualify.

"The worst case scenario, in terms of travelling, is that I make the cut and am not in the top 25 which means I'll have a very long Sunday on the road," explained Sims, giving a detailed example of life as an aspiring pro golfer.