Kim Swan hopes his renewed passion for competitive golf culminates in success at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship Local Qualifier at Port Royal Golf Course today.

The former European Tour player has been virtually dormant in tournament play since 2007 but has decided to make a rare appearance to compete for one of the four qualifying spots up for grabs in the 36-hole strokeplay event.

“I am excited to be entered in the qualifier and to compete for an opportunity to participate in a PGA Tour event in my homeland,” Swan said.

“It’s not lost on me that this is the 50th anniversary year of Port Royal Golf Course and the 50th anniversary of my introduction to the game of golf.

“This year has already been a nostalgic journey for me. There’s definitely a natural mystic in the air and I’m excited to be out again seriously plying my golf trade.”

One of the most senior players in the 23-strong field boasting professional and amateur players, Swan, 64, has gone to great lengths to prepare himself for the task at hand.

“I have purposely spent the past year transforming my body, rebuilding my swing and re-establishing my shot-making ability and rekindling my natural a instincts to play the game of golf,” he explained.

Swan was the ambassador for the inaugural Bermuda Championship in 2019 and was bestowed the honour of striking the ceremonial first shot off the tee at the par-71 Southampton layout.

He is one of the island’s most successful players, having won the Bermuda Open on three occasions.

However, his success extends beyond the island’s shores having won the individual title and team titles representing Troy State University at the 1979 Northeast Louisiana University Intercollegiate and competed for Bermuda at the 1984 World Cup of Golf in Italy along with fellow professional Keith Smith.

“While I was blessed to have been a pioneer for Bermuda on the PGA European Tour and as a collegiate player in America, my passion for playing golf has been renewed,” Swan said.

“I felt driven to get myself physically and mentally prepared to compete in this year’s PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship and set about it methodically.”

Swan and Jeffrey Lindo, the first Portuguese golfer to win the former Colonel Clarke Junior Championship, will be the first group to tee off at 8am.

The qualifier, which concludes tomorrow at Port Royal, will boast arguably the strongest field ever to compete at the event.

Camiko Smith, the defending champion, is among six previous qualifiers which also includes Michael Sims, the former Web.com Tour player, Jarryd Dillas, Kenny Leseur, Dwayne Pearman and Anthony Phipps.