Daniel Augustus will be aiming to make a solid start during today’s opening round of the South Carolina Open.

The Bermudian professional is making his debut at the GPro Tour sanctioned event being held at the Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, South Carolina, where his first priority is to make the cut.

“Hopefully, I can put some solid rounds together and make the cut,” said Augustus, who will be among the first groups of players to tee off today.

“I have been hitting solid shots with every club in my bag and making more putts.

“The fields are always strong on this tour, which is why I decided to come up and play in this event.

“I am looking forward to playing in another event to see how my game holds up.”

The cut will be made after 36 holes at the event which will see the winner pocket $10,000 in prize earnings.

Augustus also has the added incentive to put his best foot forward as he is using the 54-hole tournament as a warm up for the upcoming qualifier for the inaugural Bermuda Championship.

“I am trying to stay sharp for the qualifiers,” he said.

The 36-hole qualifier will be held at Mid Ocean Club on October 16 and 17 with the 72-hole PGA Tour sanctioned Bermuda Championship to take place at Port Royal Golf Course from October 31 to November 3.

“It’s a great opportunity and it would be great to be able to play in a PGA Tour event at Port Royal,” Augustus added.

“It’s the first time we have a full field of PGA Tour events and to have the opportunity to be able to get into my first PGA Tour event on home soil would be nothing short of amazing.

“Every golfer that’s Bermudian has the opportunity to do what any golfer would love to do; which is to compete with some of the greatest golfers in the world.

“Not only that, but the doors that can open if one qualifies, plays well and places high in the event are immense.

“For a guy like me whose goal is to be a member of the PGA Tour again it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Dwayne Pearman was the first Bermudian to have his place confirmed among the field for the inaugural Bermuda Championship after being granted a sponsor’s exemption from qualification process for the event and thus handed an automatic spot in the tournament.