Bermuda's top golfer, Michael Sims, boarded a flight for California yesterday feeling relaxed and upbeat about his chances of regaining his Nationwide Tour status – or even going one better by qualifying for the more lucrative US PGA Tour.

Sims' career peaked two years' ago when he made the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School where he earned entry to the Nationwide circuit.

Now he heads for the famed La Quinta course in California where he will tee off next Wednesday among more than 150 other pros, hoping to resurrect his career and earn another Tour card.

Since 2006 his game has taken more twists than a pretzel and it's only after taking a step back and looking deep within has the 29-year-old Bermudian been able to gradually put his career back on track.

"At the beginning of the year I took a step back and looked at a lot of things. I took a step back and decided I wanted to go on a totally different path to the way that I had been going," Sims told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

After failing to retain his Nationwide status, Sims was reduced to playing on the Tour de las Americas and other US mini-tour events.

"Not getting through (Nationwide Tour) the year before (2007) was a big disappointment for me," he said.

"I didn't start off well this year and so I took a step back and kind of took a really good look at myself and came up with a game plan, if you will, and stuck to it all year."

In the first stage of Q-School earlier this month, the past Bermuda Open winner tied for first at the Club of Kingwood -Forest in Kingwood, Texas, breezing through to the second stage at the Lantana GC, also in the Lone Star state.

It was there last weekend that he booked his place in the final qualifier, tying for ninth place in a 72-hole event which saw the top 20 advance, with a one-under-par 287 total.

Now he faces some of the best pros in the business, many hoping to play their way back onto the PGA Tour – players such as Notah Begay, Bubba Dickerson, Scott Dunlap and Frank Lickliter.

Sims, however, says he won't be intimidated by such big names, having played with many of them during his short spell on the Nationwide Tour.

"They (rivals) put their pants on one leg at a time just like I do and so there's really no difference there," he said. "This is a very selfish game and the only person I focus on is me. Either it's going to happen (earn Tour Card) or not.

"It's just another week of golf and I am very excited at the moment. I feel good and this is something I have been working towards all year, preparing myself by focusing on each day that I have – just being where I am and accepting it.

"I am definitely in a good place at the moment. My putting has been really good this year while my short game has also been really good. I have also switched clubs and balls this year, which is a really big change for me."

Sims is presently based in Georgia where he has gained invaluable experience by playing alongside a number of talented professionals.

"I am very fortunate to be living where I am at the moment because I get to see a lot of touring pros who I hang out with all the time," he said.

"They are always in and out of Georgia and if I have questions, I ask them and everyone seems to be very helpful. It's just so nice down here, you get a lot of help."

Sims is expected to take part in this weekend's scheduled practice rounds at La Quinta where the battle begins next week at the PGA West Nicklaus Tournament course and the PGA West TPC Stadium course.

"They're very challenging golf courses," he said.