Local golf's budding star Michael Sims is turning professional.

And already some of the world's top sports management companies are chasing his signature.

The Rhode Island University student, currently back on the Island, will return next week to complete his final semester at school but hopes to play in a professional tournament within the next couple of months.

After a sensational summer, when the 22-year-old reached the quarter-finals of the US Amateur - where he was beaten on the last hole by the eventual champion - and won two major events, the North/South Amateur at Pinehurst and the Players Amateur at Belfair, Sims failed to earn his professional tour card when he was eliminated at the second stage of Q-School in November.

But he's decided the time is now right to relinquish his amateur status and take the plunge into one of sports' most fiercely competitive arenas.

"I met with one (management) group before Christmas, and I've just met with two groups this week," said Sims on his return to Bermuda on Thursday. "Now I have to sit down and think about it."

Accompanied by his father, Bruce, the Island's former top ranked tennis player, Sims was in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday where he sat down with representatives from IMG, the world's largest sports management company whose stable includes the likes of Tiger Woods.

He also travelled to Washington DC at the invitation of Octagon, a group which manages Davis Love III, and previously he had met with the New England-based Woolf agency which has on its books two of that area's top name golfers, Brad Faxon and Brett Quigley.

As yet, he's made no commitment to any of the groups.

"I'm definitely turning pro. I've made up my mind and that's part of the reason why I've been to see these groups.

But I'm not leaning towards any one of them at this particular time," added Sims.

"I've just got back. I need to sit down and think about it and talk with my parents about it a little more.

"I'll finish school in May. I have one more semester to go, so it makes no sense to quit now."

In the meantime, Sims hope to earn his playing card for the Canadian Tour, which holds as many as six of its events in the US during early Spring.

A qualifying school is scheduled in the US in February and Sims has targeted that as his next major tournament.

"I've actually taken a break from playing lately. But I'm gradually working my way back," he said.

"I was a little disappointed after (PGA Tour) Q-School.

"It was just an off week, things started slipping away and that's sometimes the way it goes.

"But right now that's (Q-School) in the plan for next year."

Signing for a management company, Sims believes, will allow him to concentrate solely on his golf.

"I think it would make life a lot easier for me," he explained. "They basically take care of everything off the golf course, they look after the business side.

"They can do a lot of different things, they could even help me get sponsors' exemptions for certain tournaments."