New dad chasing his foreign dreams
MICHAEL Sim is still dreaming of a return to the United States, via Japan, as he prepares for his golfing comeback following the birth of his first child.
The Gold Coast-based talent will play in next week’s Fiji International having skipped the past five Australasian events following the birth of his son Jayden in February.
Sim has had a taste at the top after a trio of US secondary tour titles in 2009 propelled him on to the PGA Tour until 2011.
The 33-year-old thought he was back on track with a breakthrough win in last year’s Queensland Open, only to narrowly miss a spot on the Japanese tour soon.
An extended break, even longer than when he battled stress fractures in 2006, hasn’t dulled his drive.
“It’s definitely been a challenge to juggle golf and (wife) Simone having her own small (pilates) business,” he said of fatherhood. “It’s amazing how much time you had before that you don’t now, but it’s been great.”
Sim will enter Japan qualifying school again this year and, after playing well in his brief US tournament flirtations last year, knows he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
“If I can qualify it would work well with Jayden, but if the opportunity came up to get back to the US I’d do it,” he said.
“I know I can still do it, I just need that regular competition.
“You see the guys from the Web.com Tour that I used to play with still over there doing well and that drives you for sure.”
Fellow Gold Coast talent Damien Jordan, an Australian Army veteran who twice toured Iraq, will also tee it up in Fiji in a strong line-up for the tournament.
The 2017 Victorian PGA Championship winner can secure a spot on the Asian Tour with a victory, while Jack Munro can gain status on the European Tour by claiming the title.