Bermuda touring pro Michael Sims makes his stomach-churning return to Q-School today, harbouring lofty ambitions to secure a PGA Tour card — the best possible playing status.

Sims has been forced to revisit the PGA Tour national qualifying tournament for a seventh year after failing to automatically renew his Nationwide Tour card following a difficult debut season.

The 28-year-old embarks on his gruelling quest today at Cypresswood Golf Course, in Spring near Houston, the first of the three stage qualifiers.

Q-School is widely regarded as golf's stiffest test of endurance, nerve and mental strength, with Sims making it through to the final stage for the first time last year earning him a potentially lucrative Nationwide Tour berth.

But despite his first year on the Tour producing a "mixed bag of results", the Island's number one golfer is looking to go one better by qualifying for a much-coveted PGA Tour card.

"If you ask me what my goal is ahead of Q-School I say it's to earn the best possible playing status and that's the PGA Tour card," said Sims. "Any athlete will always aim for the highest goal available. Whatever else may happen from Q-School, such as re-qualifying for the Nationwide Tour, I'll have to wait and see."

Played at the end of each season, Q-School eventually determines the 25 players (and ties) who receive their Tour cards for the following year. Anyone else who advances to the final stage receives status of some kind on the Nationwide Tour.

There are 12 first-stage events, held across the US from today until November 3, with fields of approximately 78 players. A predetermined number of those, generally the low 19, 20 or 21 and ties, advance to the second stage of qualifying, which will be held at six venues from November 14 to 17. The final is played over a marathon six rounds.

Ranked 118 on the Tour money list, Sims re-enters Q-School brimming with confidence after one of his best finishes of the season completing the Chattanooga Classic, Tennessee, in a tie for 34th.

Entering the last day in 52nd place Sims soared up the leaderboard with a final round of three-under par 69 at the 7,204-yard, par 72 Black Creek Club.

"I feel in good form after achieving one of my best finishes of the season last week," said Sims. "I have been hitting the ball well over the last three weeks.

"My first season playing on the Nationwide Tour has been a learning process for me. I have had some success and I've been playing against a lot of good players at different courses and I think a lot of good has come from it.

"I would say it's been a year of mixed emotions as I've had a mixed bag of results."

Sims earned his Nationwide Tour card through reaching the final phase of Q-School qualifying last year. In six previous attempts, he had failed to get past the second stage.