Nick Jones is excited about meeting up with compatriot Daniel Augustus in the APGA Black History Month Classic at TPC Sawgrass this week.

The two Bermudian golfers are in action at the prestigious Florida course for the 36-hole tournament, which starts on Wednesday and Jones is eager to renew acquaintance.

“One of the main things I’m looking forward to is meeting up with Daniel,” Jones told The Royal Gazette. “I haven’t seen him in quite some time and I’m hoping to practice and catch up to him.”

“We used to battle as juniors, so it will be nice to battle him as an adult and we can push each other to become better.”

Augustus is also looking forward to having his fellow countryman among the field.

“It’s always a pleasure to see a familiar face at foreign golf tournaments,” he said. “Especially someone that speaks similar to you and understands you when you are talking in your native accent. I can talk to him directly and that always gives you a good feeling.

“It will be great to see how he performs against the guys out here and how well he plays, and I just looking forward to seeing him.”

It is the second straight year the event will feature two Bermudians as Augustus and compatriot Camiko Smith finished tied for 19th and 23rd at last year’s tournament held at Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs, California.

As well as being reunited with Augustus, Jones is excited and honoured to have the opportunity to test his skills at the world famous par-72 course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where his favourite player Tiger Woods won two of his 82 PGA Tour victories in The Players Championship.

“I’m honoured to play on the same course where my favourite golfer Tiger Woods has played and looking forward to testing my game on a major stage golf course,” Jones added.

The 33-year-old is making his first appearance on the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour (APGA) since being granted full exemption to compete at that level after finishing tied for fifth on his debut in the Butterfield Bermuda APGA Championship at Port Royal Golf Course last December.

“I’m looking forward to the high level of players on the APGA,” Jones said. “They have golfers who get to train and practice every day and they get coaching on the physical and mental side of golf. I’m hoping to make connections and learn from the best players.”

Jones is inspired by his present form but has tapered his expectations heading into the event.

“I try to keep my expectations low as I realise that I’m not playing full-time yet,” he said.

“I still have to work four to five days a week, but I fight to keep my game at the level I know it can be.

“My game is on top form. I’m going up a little early to get used to the conditions and definitely keep working on my short game.”

Augustus’s confidence received a tremendous boost after he picked up his first win of the year in the recent Super Bowl Classic on the Elevations Tour and he is no stranger to Sawgrass having previously played at the course at junior level, but he chooses to take matters in stride rather than get caught up in the hype heading into the event.

“It’s just one step at a time and you don’t look at it as an event that’s bigger than any other,” he said.

“You just take it one shot at a time, one swing at a time, one step at a time and try your best not to overthink things and just play the way that you play.

“Don’t put any more pressure on yourself than you already have to. Just take it for what it is; another tournament and another opportunity to play well.