Michael Sims will endure the most gruelling ordeal of his professional career this week when he competes in the marathon, six-round final stage of PGA Tour Q School.

The 27-year-old flew out to California last Friday and will take his place today among a field of 153 golfers at the La Quinta golf complex just south of Palm Springs ? all of whom are vying for the best possible playing status for the 2007 season.

Although he is already guaranteed at least a conditional pass onto the Nationwide Tour next year, having made it through to the final stage for the very first time ? a feat which gives him direct entry into at least 15 tournaments ? Sims made it clear before leaving for the Golden State last week that he had no intention of settling for just that.

?If I go into it with the mentality that I?ve already made it, then I might as well not turn up,? he told

?There?s still a hell of a lot at stake and I?m going to be trying my hardest to make the most of the opportunity.?

To earn a PGA Tour card, Sims will have to finish in the top 30 and ties, with the 50 next-best finishers earning the right to compete on the Nationwide Tour for the entirety of next season.

After six years of Q-School failure and being forced as a result to scrape a living on many of North America?s smaller tours, making it to the final stage represented a major breakthrough for Bermuda?s top golfer.

Up until three weeks ago, when he qualified from the nerve-wracking second phase after placing 16th with a four-round score of ten-under par at the Lake Jovita Country Club in Florida, the 2005 Bermuda Open champion was generally competing in tournaments boasting up to only $150,000 in prize money.

Yet even an average Nationwide Tour event offers at least half a million dollar to the players, giving Sims the chance to become a self-sufficient pro for the first time ? having spent most of his twenties being helped out by his family and living off local sponsorship from the likes of insurance giants Ace. Sims was not available for comment yesterday but his father Bruce ? the director of golf at the Fairmont Southampton ? said he seemed fairly relaxed ahead of undoubtedly his greatest golfing test.

?He?s had a couple of practice rounds out there and has got himself settled ahead of what is going to be a very tough week,? he said.

?There?s no doubt he?ll be a little nervous on the first tee ? everybody is ? but he?s been playing well enough recently to get through that and do well.

?We discussed whether I should go out to California and watch him but we ultimately decided it was best if I stayed here and just let him get on with it. There?s enough pressure on him this week without having to look up and see me if he hits a bad shot.

?So like everyone else we?ll be following it from here and crossing our fingers that everything goes to plan. But he seems quite calm and focused and ready to rock and roll.?

Sims tees off on the 7,126-yard Jack Nicklaus Tournament course at 12.57 p.m. local time. The six rounds are spread over two venues, the second being the 7,261-yard, PGA West/Stadium course ? one of the most highly-regarded courses in the US.