Michael Sims will look to go one better when he tees off in today’s opening round of the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship at Turtle Hill Golf Club.

The former Web.com Tour player finished runner-up to Justin Regier, of the United States, at the Bermuda Open at Port Royal Golf Club this week.

Regier held off a late charge from Sims to clinch a maiden Open title by two shots at the first attempt.

Sims is keen to focus on the task at hand, but admits that competitive par-three golf is new to him.

“I have never played in a par-three tournament, but I am really looking forward to it,” Sims said.

Other Bermudians carrying hopes at the inaugural event include Dwayne Pearman and Daniel Augustus, who won the qualifying tournament in January.

The Island’s players will certainly have their work cut out in a formidable field including European Tour players, Ryder Cup winners and leading overseas club professionals.

Among the famed players who will be competing are Ronan Rafferty, the Northern Irish 1989 Ryder Cup winner and 1989 European Tour Order of Merit winner, Barry Lane, a five-times European Tour winner and four-times European Senior Tour winner, and Mark Mouland, an eight-times European Tour winner and two-times European Senior Tour winner.

Also among the overseas contingent is Bob Kurtz, who is known worldwide as “Golf’s Ironman” for his record-setting golf marathons.

Kurtz, who holds world records for the most holes played in a week and most times scoring one’s age or lower in one day, also competed in this week’s Open.

“This is a phenomenal event that has grown exponentially over the past four years and Grey Goose has truly elevated the prestige of the World Par 3 Championship,” said Anthony Mocklow, the Turtle Hill Golf Club director.